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JOHN  SKALLY  TERRY 
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ST.  IGNATIUS 


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HIS  FIRST  COMPANIONS 


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ZE3w3jcLX>nia.daiL  &  It 


THE  FOUNDERS  OF  THE  JESUITS. 


SAINT  IGNATIUS 


AND  HIS 


FIRST  COMPANIONS. 


BY  THE 

REV.  CHAS.  CONSTANTINE  PISE,  D.D., 

AUTHOR    OF    a  HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH,"    "  FATHER    BOWLAWB,* 
"ALETHEIA,"    ETO. 

A    NEW    EDITION. 


NEW  YORK : 

P.  J.   KENEDY, 

EXCELSIOR    CATHOLIC    PUBLISHING   HOUSE, 
5  Barclay  Street. 

1894. 


COPY  EIGHT 
1886. 
P.   J.   KENEDY. 


A.  M.  D.  O. 

TO 

THE  COLLEGE  OF  GEORGETOWN.  D.C., 

MY     VENERABLE     ALMA     MATER,     THE     NURSE     OF     LETTERfi, 
SCIENCE,     AND     VIRTUE, 

EVER  ANIMATED  BT  THE   SPIRIT  OF  LOYOLA,  AND  THE  FIRST  NENB, 

®{jis  Volume, 

A    TRIFLING,    BUT    VERY    SINCERE,   TOKEN    OF    GRATITUDE,    IS    MOM 
RESPECTFULLY   AND   AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED. 


PREFACE. 


Among  the  nine  first  companions  of  St.  Igna- 
tius, four  preceded  him  to  the  tomb :  namely, 
Peter  Faber,  St.  Francis  Xavier,  Claudius  Jaius, 
and  John  Cordurius.  Of  course,  in  the  following 
pages,  their  lives  are  given  to  their  conclusion. 
Of  the  others,  my  purpose  was  to  treat  only 
down  to  the  period  when  their  holy  Founder  was 
taken  from  them.  In  which  space,  however^  all 
the  important  actions  of  the  early  Society  are 
comprised.  The  principal  object  I  had  in  view, 
in  not  carrying  out  their  history  after  the  death 
of  St.  Ignatius,  was,  to  exhibit  the  spirit  which 
he,  in  person,  diffused  throughout  the  body,  and 
thereby  confute,  by  evidence,  the  vain  calumnj 
that  he  was  a  fanatic,  and  his  first  disciples 
were  intriguers  and  impostors. 

594405 


8  PREFACE. 

In  the  performance  of  my  task,  Orlandinus, 
the  author  of  a  lengthy  and  elegant  History  oi 
the  Society  down  to  the  demise  of  St.  Ignatius, 
has  been  my  constant  and  faithful  guide.  To 
his  great  work,  references  will  be  found  scat- 
tered in  the  notes  on  almost  every  page  of  this 
volume.  The  edition  in  my  hands  is  that  of 
Colonics  Agrippince,  sumptibus  Antonii  Hierat ; 
anno  Domini  MDCXV. :  approved  by  Claudius 
Aquaviva,  General  of  the  Society,  in  the  preced- 
ing year  (1614).  If  my  present  work  be  worthy 
the  acceptance  of  the  Jesuits  in  these  United 
States,  to  them  I  offer  it,  as  an  humble  but  grate- 
ful remuneration  for  the  cares  and  favors  which 
they  bestowed  upon  my  boyhood,  while  undei 
their  salutary  and  paternal  tuition. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Ignatius. — The  proud  knight  converted  to  a  great  saint.  Period  of  hi* 
birth.  His  family,  character,  sanctity.  Book  of  Exercises.  Pilgrimage 
to  Jerusalem.  His  "  Company."  Its  appelhition.  Its  object  Its  polity. 
He  sues  the  approbation  of  Paul  III.  It  is  approved  by  Julius  III.  The 
General  of  the  order :  its  various  grades.  Ecclesiastical  honors  repudia- 
ted. Why.  No  particular  dress.  Attack  of  the  Sorbonne.  Defeuce  of 
Father  Olauius.  It  is  persecuted.  Its  efforts  for  the  cause  of  education. 
Schools.  Colleges.  Ignatius1  illness  and  death.  His  reputation  for  sane- 
tity.    Baronius  prays  at  his  tomb 28 


CHAPTER     II. 

Pbter  Faber. — How  gained  over  by  Ignatius.  Performs  the  Exercises. 
Is  ordained  Priest  Teaches  in  the  University  of  Some.  Is  sent  to 
Parma;  and  to  Germany.  His  mission  at  Eatisbonne.  Goes  to  Spain. 
Eeturns  to  Germany.  His  labors  at  Spires;  and  at  Mentz;  at  Augs- 
burg, and  Cologne.  Is  called  to  Portugal.  Thence  to  Liege.  Eeturns 
to  Cologne.  Defends  the  Catholic  Faith.  His  manner  of  treating  with 
heretics.  Is  sent  back  to  Portugal.  Goes  to  Castile.  Distinguishes 
himself  at  Salamanca.  Goes  to  Valladolid.  His  influence  at  the  Court 
of  Philip.  Traverses  Madrid  and  Toledo.  Is  deputed  to  the  Council  of 
Trent    Sickens  at  Barcelona,  and  dies  at  Eome 79 


10  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Fbancis  Xayikb. — Converted  by  Ignatius.  Rejects  a  canonicate.  Is 
sent  to  the  Indies,  as  Apostolic  Legate.  His  labors  at  Mozambique, 
Melinda,  and  Socotra;  on  the  Fishery-coast;  at  Goa;  at  Cape  Comorin  ; 
at  Travancor;  in  the  Island  of  Manaria;  in  Ceylon.  Visits  the  tomb 
of  St.  Thomas  at  Meliapor.  Goes  to  Malacca;  Amboina;  Maluco  ;  to  the 
Isle  of  Moro;  meditates  a  mission  to  Japan.  Returns  to  India;  to  Goa. 
Departs  for  Japan.  Arrives  at  Gangoxima.  Traverses  Japan.  First 
Japanese  Christians.  Goes  to  Fira-ndo,  and  to  Meaco,  and  Amangouchi. 
Disputes  with  the  Bonzees.  Conference  with  the  King  of  Bungo.  Re- 
turns to  the  Indies.  Departs  for  China.  Arrives  at  the  Island  of  San- 
chin.    Dies  in  the  midst  of  his  glory 103 

CHAPTER    IV. 

James  Laynez. — Unites  himself  to  Ignatius.  Enters  Rome  barefoot 
Teaches  in  the  Roman  Academy.  Is  sent  to  Parma.  His  labors  at 
Venice;  at  Brescia;  at  Padua;  at  Bassano;  at  Rome.  Refuses  the 
purple.  Is  sent  to  the  Council  of  Trent  His  zeal  at  Bologna;  Florence; 
Perugio;  Monte  Pulciano ;  Sienna;  Venice;  Naples.  Is  sent  to  Sicily. 
Accompanies  Vega  to  Africa.  His  labors.  Is  called  to  Pisa.  Is  again 
sent  as  theologian  of  the  Pope,  to  the  Council  of  Trent  Is  made  Pro- 
vincial of  Italy.  Preaches  at  Genoa  Writes  a  compendium  of  theology 
for  the  use  of  the  schools  of  the  Society.  Is  sent  back  to  Germany  to 
the  Diet  of  Augsburg.  Returns  to  Italy.  Rejects  the  Cardinal's  hat 
His  great  merits,  talents,  and  actions 153 

CHAPTER    V. 

Alphonstts  Salmebon. — Called  to  the  Society.  Teaches  in  the  Sapienza^ 
at  Rome.  Is  sent  to  Ireland.  Seized  as  a  Spy  at  Lyons.  Is  called  to 
Modena.  Is  persecuted.  Is  sent  to  the  Council  of  Trent  Draws  up  8 
Summary  of  the  Errors  of  Luther.  Goes  to  Bologna ;  to  Verona ;  to 
Germany,  at  the  command  of  the  Pope.  Labors  at  Ingoldstadt  Is  re- 
called to  Verona;  is  sent  to  Naples;  afterwards  to  Poland;  then  to  Bel- 
gium. His  labors  forever  appreciated  by  that  nation — his  immortal 
Dame 19] 


CONTENTS.  11 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Nicholas  Bobadilla.— Becomes  one  of  the  Nine.  Is  sent  to  the  island  of 
Ischia.  Is  destined  for  the  East  Indies,  but  detained  by  illness.  Is 
deputed  to  Germany.  Labors  at  Vienna ;  traverses  the  different  cities 
of  Germany.  Refuses  the  Episcopal  dignity.  His  zeal  at  Naples.  Is 
made  Bector  of  the  Neapolitan  College.  His  lenient  government.  His 
trials.  His  submission.  His  obedience  and  other  virtues.  An  ex- 
ample to  posterity. 221 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Iihoh  Rodriguez. — Is  numbered  among  the  Nine.  Is  selected  for  the 
Indies.  Departs  to  Portugal.  Is  there  detained.  Converts  the  Am- 
bassador from  the  Indies.  His  trials  at  Lisbon.  Is  made  Tutor  to  the 
Son  of  the  King.  Is  created  Provincial.  Is  called  to  Rome,  is  ap- 
pointed to  preside  over  the  Province  of  Aragon.  Is  recalled  to  Rome. 
His  severe  trials.  His  extreme  humility.  Another  shining  example  to 
bis  brethren  for  all  succeeding  times. 257 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Claudius  Jaius. — He  joins  Ignatius.  Is  sent  to  Brescia  and  Favenza, 
Goes  to  Germany.  Is  persecuted.  Labors  at  Ratisbonne,  and  Ingolstadt 
Succeeds  Eckius  in  the  Chair  of  Theology.  Attends  the  Diet  of  Worms. 
Founds  Seminaries.  Is  sought  after  by  various  Princes.  Is  sent  to  the 
Council  of  Trent.  Refuses  the  See  of  Trieste.  Goes  to  Ferrara,  at  the 
invitation  of  the  Duke.  Goes  to  Augsburg.  Thence  to  Vienna.  Dies. 
His  eulogy.    His  monument.    His  immortality 285 

CHAPTER     IX. 

John  CoBDUBros. — One  of  the  Companions.  His  career  brief,  but  bright. 
"Was  destined  for  Ireland.  Was  appointed  Confessor  to  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Charles  V.  His  death  revealed  to  Ignatius  on  the  Bridge 
of8ixtus. 329 


12  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Pabchabius  Broktus.—  The  last  of  the  Nine.  Is  sent  to  Ireland.  la 
captured  at  Lyons  as  a  spy.  Is  sent  to  Monte  Pulciano,  and  to  Favei> 
za.  Is  deemed  worthy  to  be  made  Patriarch  of  Ethiopia  by  Ignatius 
Goes  to  Bolo<rna.  To  Ferrara.  Is  made  the  first  Provincial  of  Italy. 
Is  sent  to  France.  Labors  to  establish  the  Society  at  Paris.  Oppo- 
sition of  the  Sorbonne.  Triumph  of  justice.  His  patience  and  othet 
Ylrtuea.    Sty  led  by  Ignatius  "The  Angel  of  the  Society. w. 881 


IMBODUCTIOK. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  '.he  different  epochs  when  the  Church  was  af- 
file fcd  with  the  dissemination  of  new  errors,  God 
never  Failed  to  raise  up  extraordinary  men,  and 
somet  mes  societies,  animated  by  a  holy  zeal  :  and 
his  a'j.iistance  has  always  been  given,  in  proportion 
to  her  actual  necessities.  Now,  in  what  age,  I  will 
ask,  did  the  Church  stand  more  in  need  of  the  spe- 
cial aid  of  the  Divine  power,  than  when  she  saw 
herself  attacked  by  a  multitude  of  enemies,  whose 
object  and  determination  were  to  destroy  her  very 
existence  ?  It  is  not  suprising,  therefore,  if  Saint 
Ignatius  and  his  first  companions  should  be  regard- 
ed as  a  strong  and  peculiar  rampart,  reared  up  by 
the  power  of  Heaven  to  oppose  and  withstand  the 
combined  assaults  of  Luther  and  his  fellow-re- 
formists. 
That  is  no  unfounded  assertion.     It  is  authorized 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

not  only  by  the  experience  of  past  centuries,  but  by 
the  facts  and  actions  of  the  new  Society.  Time 
only  strengthens  it ;  and  it  has  been  confirmed  by 
an  authority  which  must  have  great  weight  with 
Catholics,  I  mean  by  the  decision  of  the  Sovereign 
Pontiffs.  Of  these  I  will  cite  but  one  ;  whose  ex- 
alted and  enlightened  character  has  secured  the 
admiration  of  Protestants  and  even  of  modern  phi- 
losophers :  "  It  is  a  constant  and  common  opinion," 
writes  the  great  pope,  Benedict  XIV.,  "  and  which 
has  been  confirmed  by  the  decisions  of  the  Apos- 
tolic See,  that,  as  God,  by  his  omnipotence,  has 
raised  up  at  other  periods  other  Saints  in  his 
Church,  so  has  he,  in  like  manner,  raised  up  St.  Ig- 
natius and  his  Society,  to  oppose  Luther  and  the 
other  Heresiarchs  of  his  time."* 

I  will  not  here  attempt  to  relate  what  the  Je- 
suits have  done  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  since 
the  institution  of  their  order.  Some  of  the  deeds 
of  the  first  disciples  of  Ignatius  the  reader  will 
find  in  the  following  pages  ;  enough,  perhaps,  to 
satisfy  him  of  their  wonderful  zeal,  perseverance, 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  truth,  and  sacrifices  for  the 
salvation  of  souls. 

It  is  incontestable,  that  the  Reformists  of  the  six 

*  Brief  given  in  1748. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

teenth  century  dreaded  the  first  Jesuits  as  their 
most  formidable  enemies.  Hence  the  origin  of  the 
hatred  which  they  evinced  towards  the  Society,  and 
which  the  lapse  of  ages  has  not  been  able  to  ex- 
tinguish in  the  hearts  of  their  posterity.  Wher- 
ever the  first  companions  were  admitted,  the  novel 
doctrines  not  only  made  no  progress,  but  entire 
cities  returned  to  the  bosom  of  the  ancient  Church. 
Cologne,  Treves,  Mentz,  and  the  other  towns  of 
Germany  that  have  retained  the  faith  of  their  an- 
cestors, must  attribute  that  blessing  principally  to 
the  indefatigable  zeal  of  the  Jesuits  :  to  whose  cares 
and  labors,  likewise,  many  other  cities  must  ac- 
knowledge their  gratitude  for  the  perpetuation  of 
the  Catholic  religion  among  them. 

The  legates  of  the  Council  of  Trent  rendered  be- 
coming homage  to  the  usefulness  and  virtues  of  the 
infant  Society.  In  that  august  assembly,  there 
was  but  one  voice  in  their  regard.  The  ambassa- 
dors of  princes  united  their  tributes  with  those  of 
the  prelates,  and  all  unanimously  agreed,  that  the 
most  efficacious  means  of  re-establishing  religion, 
and  reforming  morals,  in  Germany,  would  be  to 
multiply  the  colleges  of  the  Society.* 

With  no  less  zeal  did  the  Jesuits  fulfil  the  other 


See  the  Hist,  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  by  Pallavicini. 

9* 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

duties  of  their  Institute,  by  devoting  themselves  to 
the  functions  of  the  holy  ministry  and  the  gratuitous 
exercise  of  works  of  charity  towards  their  neigh- 
bors. On  this  account,  they  were  received  with 
enthusiasm  in  all  Catholic  countries.  In  a  short 
time  they  had  establishments  in  Spain  and  Portu- 
gal. In  the  latter  kingdom,  so  highly  were  their 
labors  appreciated  and  admired,  that  they  received 
the  name  of  Apostles. 

With  regard  to  the  education  of  youth,  no  one 
will  refuse  to  the  Society  the  palm  which  it  has 
so  justly  earned.  Their  success,  in  this  particular, 
is  unquestionable,  and  admitted  by  enemies  as  well 
as  friends.  The  appearance  of  this  order  in  the 
Church  wrought  a  kind  of  revolution  in  education. 
Not  that  they  introduced  a  novel  method  of  literary 
teaching  :  they  adopted  the  one  then  in  use  in  the 
University  of  Paris,  in  which  the  "first  companions" 
were  educated,  and,  by  their  combined  efforts, 
brought  it  to  perfection.  But  they  understood  well, 
that  instruction  does  not  constitute  the  whole  of 
education,  nor  is  it  even  its  most  essential  part. 
If  it  is  important  to  a  state  that  its  subjects  should 
be  instructed,  it  is  essential  to  it  that  they  should 
be  virtuous.  The  moral  part  of  education,  there- 
fore, beyond  doubt,  demands  the  first  attention  : 
and  that  part,  at  the  epoch  of  the  foundation  of  the 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

Society,  was  most  neglected.  The  greatest  merit 
of  the  Jesuits  was  to  establish  a  system  of  educa- 
tion on  the  basis  of  religion,  without  which  there 
can  be  no  solid  virtue.  This  Christian  education 
was  one  of  the  principal  ends  which  St.  Ignatius 
had  in  view,  and  occupies  a  considerable  part  of 
tneir  constitutions. 

But  whilst  they  formed  Christians,  they,  likewise, 
reared  learned  men.  Should  any  one  call  this  in 
question,  let  him  examine  any  library,  and  he  will 
there  discover  incontestable  proofs  of  the  capacity 
of  the  Jesuits  as  teachers,  and  of  the  learning  of 
the  scholars  whom  they  have  trained.  Without 
exaggeration  may  it  -be  affirmed,  that  a  great  por- 
tion of  works  in  every  branch  of  science  and  of 
literature  that  has  appeared  since  the  middle  of  the 
sixteenth  century  has  been  written  either  by  the 
Jesuits  themselves,  or  by  their  scholars.  We  know 
that,  in  Catholic  countries,  they  were  charged,  if 
not  exclusively,  at  least  more  than  any  other  body 
of  men,  with  the  public  education. 

It  is  asserted  that  their  system  was  defective, 
and  that  a  new  and  better  one  has  since  been 
adopted.  This  surely  cannot  be  meant  in  reference 
to  moral  instruction  ;  and  with  regard  to  literary 
education,  before  the  modern  system  can  be  pro- 
nounced preferable  to  theirs,  it  must  have  produced 


20  INTKODUCTION. 

orators  more  eloquent,  poets  more  perfect,  philoso- 
phers more  profound,  literary  men  more  accom- 
plished, than  those  of  preceding  ages.  At  all 
events,  this  fact  must  be  conceded  :  that,  for  the 
times,  their  schools  were  incomparably  the  best. 

Bacon  and  Grotius — two  unquestionable  authori- 
ties— have  borne  testimony  to  their  worth  and  ex- 
cellence. The  former,  in  his  work  On  the  Progress 
of  the  Sciences,  writes  in  these  terms  :  °  When  I 
consider  their  tact  and  ability  to  train  up  youth  in 
the  sciences  and  good  morals,  I  remember  the  ex- 
pression of  Agislaus  in  reference  to  Pharnaba- 
zus  :  Being  what  you  are,  would  that  you  were 
ours."* 

And,  in  another  place,  "As  regards  the  subject 
of  education,  every  thing  may  be  said  in  a  few 
words  :  Look  at  the  schools  of  the  Jesuits  ;  nothing 
can  be  better  than  their  system."f  Grotius  speaks 
still  more  explicitly  of  their  singular  merit :  "  The 
Jesuits,"  he  writes,  "  have  great  influence  in  the 
world,  on  account  of  the  sanctity  of  their  lives,  and 
the  manner  in  which  they  instruct  youth  in  letters 
and  the  sciences  ;  without  requiring  any  remunera- 
tion."!    And  again:  "They  govern  with  wisdom, 

*  Talis  cum  sis  utinam  noster  esses, 
f  Pages  29  and  518. 
X  De  Reb.  Belg.  p.  194. 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

Mid  they  obey  with  fidelity.  The  most  recent  of 
all,  they  have  surpassed  every  sect  in  fame,  and 
on  this  account  are  envied.  They  pursue  a  medium 
between  crouching  submission  and  haughty  arro- 
gance :  they  neither  fly  from,  nor  follow,  the  vices 
of  the  world."* 

In  this  work,  the  reader  will  see  some  of  the  de- 
tails of  the  missionary  labors  of  the  first  Jesuits 
in  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  among  infidel  na- 
tions. It  was  not  my  object  to  write  a  long  history, 
but  merely  to  reduce  into  a  small  compass  matter 
which  would  fill  immense  volumes. 

In  its  very  origin,  the  Society  entered,  with 
ardor,  upon  this  salutary  and  sublime  work.  The 
name  of  St.  Francis  Xavier  is  familiar  to  every 
reader.  His  wonderful  achievements  in  the  pro- 
pagation of  religion  in  Japan  and  the  East  Indies 
are  not  less  celebrated  and  praised  by  Protestants 
than  by  Catholics.  His  Apostolic  career,  the 
multitude  of  conversions  effected  by  him,  his  un- 
paralleled exertions,  and  his  prodigious  acts,  have 
merited  for  him  the  glorious  epithet  of  the  Apostle 
of  the  Indies.  He  had  noble  successors  in  this 
magnanimous  work  :  his  companions,  animated  by 

♦Ibid.  p.  273.    Amsterdam,  1658.    The  original  text  wiD 
be  found  on  the  title-page  of  this  volume. 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

the  same  spirit,  labored  with  equal  success  in 
Africa,  and  in  the  wilds  of  the  New  World.  The 
light  of  the  gospel  was  carried  by  them  among 
people  who  had  never  before  heard  of  Christ,  and 
millions  of  newly  acquired  Catholics  compensated 
for  the  loss  which  the  Church  had  sustained  in 
Europe. 

In  conclusion,  I  earnestly  hope  that  the  facts 
which  I  have  collected  relating  to  the  lives  of  the 
first  companions  of  St.  Ignatius  may  tend  to  show 
forth  the  real  spirit  of  his  order,  and  disperse  some 
of  the  prejudices  that  prevail  against  it,  at  least  in 
the  minds  of  candid  and  sincere  men.  With 
Erasmus,  I  may  add  :  "  Abunde  satisfactum  est  illis, 
si  velint  cognoscere.  Si  nolint,  frnstra  tentemus 
eis  satisfacere,  qui  calumniari  malunt  quam  dis- 
cere."* 

*  "  If  they  desire  to  be  informed,  they  will  be  abundantly 
satisfied  ;  if  not,  in  vain  may  we  hope  to  satisfy  persons  who 
prefer  to  calumniate  rather  than  to  learn." — Epist.  336. 


ST.  IGNATIUS 


CHAPTER  1 


ST.    IGNATIUS. 

Ignatius.— The  proud  knight  converted  to  a  great  saint.  Period  of  Ms 
biith.  Kis  family,  character,  sanctity.  Book  of  Exercises.  Pilgrimage 
to  Jerusalem.  His  "  Company."  Its  appellation.  Its  object.  Its  polity. 
Ho  sues  the  approbation  of  Paul  III.  It  is  approved  by  Julius  III  Tlie 
General  of  the  order :  its  various  grades.  Ecclesiastical  honors  repudia- 
ted. Why.  No  particular  dress.  Attack  of  the  Sorbonne.  Defence  of 
Father  Olauius.  It  is  persecuted.  Its  efforts  for  the  cause  of  education. 
Schools  Colleges.  Ignatius'  illness  and  death.  His  reputation  for  sane 
tity.     Baronias  prays  at  his  tomb. 


Wearied  and  much  agitated  from  a  strange  and 
recent  apparition,  a  noble-looking  cavalier,  robed 
in  the  plain  guise  of  a  pilgrim,  sat  down  to  repose 
him  on  the  banks  of  a  gentle  stream,  not  far  from 
the    village    of    Manreza.*      The    deep    shadows 

*  The  singular  vision  here  alluded  to  is  thus  described  by 
Orlandinus,  in  his  History  of  the  Society  of  Jesus :  "  A  very 
comely  image  appeared  to  him  in  the  air,  the  figure  of  which 
he  could  not  clearly  discern.  It  was  lengthy,  like  the  form 
of  a  serpent,  bright,  of  various  hues,  and  glittering  with 
many  eyes,  like  stars :  which,  while  it  appeared,  rendered 
him  happy,  and  when  it  vanished  left  him  sorrowful."  Lib 
i.  22,  p.  7.  The  conversion  of  Ignatius  happened  in  1521 
He  was  in  his  thirty-first  year. 

3 


26  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

were  now  falling  from  the  neighboring  hills  :  ovei 
the  brow  of  Mount  Serat,  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
seemed  already  wreathing  its  sombre  twilight,  and 
the  waters  of  the  lonely  river  rippled  beneath  the 
breath  of  the  solitude's  breeze.  There,  in  profound 
contemplation,  with  his  dark-gray  eyes  fixed  intent- 
ly on  the  river,  sat  that  wondrous  stranger.  His 
elegant  mien,  his  broad,  high  forehead,  his  aqui- 
line nose,  his  beautiful  yet  manly  features,  bespoke 
the  high  rank  to  which  he  belonged,  and  the  mag- 
nanimous character  with  which  he  was  adorned. 
He  had  recently  fought,  at  the  head  of  a  chivalrous 
army,  for  the  liberties  of  Spain,  and  had  been 
wounded,  in  her  glorious  cause,  on  the  walls  of 
Pampeluna.  He  had  been  confined  to  his  bed, 
suffering  intense  pain  from  the  extraction  of  the 
ball  which  had  entered  his  leg,  and  the  amputation 
of  a  bone  which  protruded  from  the  wound.  Dur- 
ing this  period  of  lingering  and  solitary  illness,  he 
had  sought  to  relieve  his  tedium,  and  engage  his 
mind  with  reading.  No  works  of  fancy  or  books 
of  chivalry  being  within  his  reach,  he  had  re- 
course to  a  volume  of  the  Lives  of  the  Saints,  in 
which  he  beheld  depicted,  for  the  imitation  of  great 
souls,  their  heroic  virtues  and  sublime  sanctity. 
The  transition,  in  such  a  mind  as  his,  from  one 
species  of  chivalry  to  another,  was  very  easy  and 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  27 

natural :  he  had  been  trained  up  to  that  of  arms 
and  martial  enthusiasm ;  he  could,  without  diffi- 
culty, appreciate  that  of  peace  and  religious  glory. 
As  he  read  on,  his  heart  opened,  as  it  were,  to  the 
divine  influences  of  Christian  heroism  ;  his  soul 
insensibly  began  to  glow  with  an  ardor  more  en- 
nobling and  inspiring  than  he  had  before  expe- 
rienced ;  a  desire  to  emulate  the  splendid  moral 
achievements  of  the  examples  before  him,  an  irre- 
sistible admiration  of  their  victories  over  them- 
selves and  their  triumphs  over  the  world,  urged 
forward  his  generous  ambition  ;  and  the  grace  of 
God,  co-operating,  meanwhile,  with  his  natural 
dispositions,  he  determined  to  change  the  standard 
of  war  for  the  ensign  of  the  cross.  He  had  laid 
aside  from  his  towering  person  the  insignia  of  the 
knight,  and  taken  upon  himself  those  of  an  humble 
penitent,  making  a  pilgrimage  from  shrine  to 
shrine.  Over  the  altar  of  the  ever-blessed  Virgin 
he  had  hung  the  sword  which  was  still  gleaming 
with  the  lustre  of  valor — a  bright,  a  splendid  tro- 
phy of  the  grace  of  God.  For  that  brave  spirit 
that  knew  not  how  to  cower  before  the  terrors 
of  the  cannon,  was  stricken  down  in  profound  sub- 
jection— not  to  any  human  power — and  laid  pros- 
trate, by  the  "violence"  of  the  love  of  God. 
Sweet  violence,  indeed,   that  gives   no   pain  but 


28  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

contrition,  and  demands  no  subjection  but  a  calm 
submission  to  the  will  of  Heaven.  Violence 
which,  it  is  true,  storms  the  citadel  of  the  heart, 
but  renders  it,  at  the  same  time,  a  voluntary  cap- 
tive :  which  sometimes  achieves  its  object  by 
forcing  the  deep  and  silent  tear  from  the  fountains 
of  some  Magdalen's  soul,  and,  at  other  times,  by 
casting  down  headlong — blind  and  terror-stricken 
— on  the  sward,  some  Saul  of  Tarsus.  That  ex- 
traordinary personage,  meditating,  at  this  twilight 
hour,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rubricato,  is  the  immor- 
tal founder  of  the  Society  of  Jesus — Ignatius  of 
Loyola. 

Between  the  epoch  of  the  birth  of  this  defender 
of  the  ancient  faith,. and  that  of  Martin  Luther,  its 
pest  and  scourge,  a  space  of  nine  years  occurred  : 
the  former  having  been  born  in  1491,  the  latter  in 
1482.  God,  whose  providence  could  not  but  pre- 
pare a  barrier  against  the  calamities  which  he 
foresaw  were  about  to  desolate  his  Church,  raised 
up  Ignatius,  as  a  host,  in  the  Company  which  he 
was  destined  to  establish,  for  her  defence  and  edi- 
fication. Guipuzcoa,  a  province  in  Cantabria, 
was  the  place  of  his  nativity.  His  family  was 
noble  and  renowned.  His  father  and  mother 
were  both  of  illustrious  origin.  His  youthful  dis- 
position tended  to  the  study  and  the  feats  of  arms : 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  29 

and  having1,  at  a  maturer  age,  embraced  the  mili- 
tary profession,  he  won  the  applause  of  his  coun- 
try and  reaped  no  little  glory  on  the  field.  This 
soldier-like  character  he  impressed  on  the  Company 
which  he  instituted.  It  appears  in  the  celerity 
of  obedience  on  the  part  of  its  members,  in  the 
enduring  of  labor,  and  the  missionary  exercises 
— all  modelled  on  the  exemplar  of  the  camp.  His 
soul,  from  early  childhood,  burned  with  inextin 
guishable  ardor  for  renown,  and  human  praise  . 
which  natural  impetuosity,  changed  and  chastened 
under  holier  influences,  he  carried  with  him  into 
the  ranks  of  religion,  and  infused  into  the  breasts 
of  his  disciples.  He  was  distinguished  by  grace, 
ease,  and  majesty  of  manners,  and  a  singular  love 
of  elegance  of  dress ;  which  qualities  he  after- 
wards hallowed,  and  transferred  to  sacred  things, 
and  made  auxiliary  to  the  discipline  and  spirit  of 
his  order.  He  possessed  a  sublime  magnanimity 
in  pardoning  an  offence,  as  well  as  in  conferring 
a  favor ;  an  innate  detestation  of  avarice,  and — 
the  germ  of  all  vices — cupidity.  He  exhibited  a 
lofty  daring  in  dangerous  and  difficult  exertions ; 
a  singular  prudence  in  the  transaction  of  business, 
and  an  unwearied  and  patient  perseverance  and 
constancy  of  character.  In  the  flower  of  youth 
he  displayed  the  maturity  of  age  ;  and  in  the  first 


30  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

impulse  of  his  conversion  was  raised,  on  a  sudd«i\ 
to  the  highest  grade  of  perfection. 

Hence  the  sublime  ascetic  character  of  his  boot 
of  "  Spiritual  Exercises,"  written  so  soon  after  his 
retreat  on  Mount  Serat,  and  his  austere  and  peni- 
tential musings  at  Manreza.  Hence  his  marvel- 
lous ecstasy,  in  which,  wrapt  in  the  contemplation  of 
heavenly  things,  during  eight  days,  he  seemed 
dead  to  those  of  earth..  And  hence,  too,  that  solemn 
vow  of  chastity  by  which  he  devoted  himself  for- 
ever to  the  service  of  God,  "  following  the  Lamb 
whithersoever  he  went."  This  perfection  dis- 
played itself  in  all  his  actions.  Whether  we  trace 
him  to  the  isle  of  Cyprus,  on  his  pilgrimage  to 
the  Holy  Land;  whether  we  view  him,  entering — 
an  humble  palmer — upon  the  consecrated  soil  of 
Palestine,  prostrate,  in  tears,  at  the  tomb  of  Christ, 
or  partaking  of  the  Redeemer's  agony  on  the  Mount 
of  Olives;  whether  we  behold  him  favored  with 
celestial  visions,  or  wrecked  on  the  shoals  near  the 
coast  of  Cyprus,  or,  on  his  return  to  Europe,  seized 
upon  and  contumaciously  treated,  as  a  spy,  in 
France; — under  all  circumstances,  and  in  every 
condition,  there  was  a  grandeur  of  soul,  a  sanctity 
of  motive,  and  an  enthusiasm  of  virtue,  which 
stamped  him,  at  once,  with  that  transcendent 
character,  which  was  afterwards   so   wonderfully 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  81 

developed  in  the  course  of  his  subsequent  ca- 
reer. 

The  "  Company"  he  established  was  destined  to 
labor  for  the  salvation  of  men,  and  to  propagate 
the  greater  glory  of  Jesus  Christ.  Hence  the  mo- 
tive for  his  styling  it  the  "Society  of  Jesus:"  de- 
riving its  name  from  Him,  who  is  the  only  true 
salvation  of  the  human  race,  and  who  promised  to 
be  "  propitious  to  him  at  Rome.* 

This  appellation,  therefore,  seems  to  have  been 
the  effect  of  Divine  inspiration,  and  was  intended 
to  exercise  a  universal  sway  over  the  motives  and 
conduct  of  its  members.     They  would  be  led  4o 

*  Christ,  relates  the  same  author,  arrayed  in  light,  ap- 
peared to  Ignatius  on  his  way  to  the  capital  of  the  Christian 
World,  and  addressed  these  words  to  him  :  Ego  vobis  Romm 
propitius  ero.  (Lib.  ii.  50.)  "  I  will  he  propitious  to  you  at 
Rome.''  This,  perhaps,  to  some,  may  appear  incredible, 
and  unworthy  a  place  in  enlightened  history :  but  I  beg 
such  to  pause  ere  they  pronounce,  and  hear  the  language  of 
Mr.  Stephens,  a  highly  gifted  and  popular  writer,  in  the 
Edinburgh  Review  for  October,  1842 :  "  As  he  (Ignatius) 
journeyed  with  Laynez,  he  saw  a  still  more  awful  vi- 
sion. It  exhibited  that  Being  whom  no  eye  hath  seen,  and 
whom  no  tongue  may  lightly  name,  and  with  him  the  Ete^ 
nal  Son,  bearing  a  heavy  cross  and  uttering  the  welcome 
assurance :  /  vM  be  propitious  to  you  at  Rome."  Critical 
Miscellanies,  p.  323 


32  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

understand  that  it  was  not  into  the  "  Company"  of 
Ignatius,  but  that  of  the  Son  of  God,  they  entered, 
to  carry  his  cross,  and  to  engage  in  conflict  with 
Satan,  and  the  vices  and  errors  of  the  world  ;  to 
continue  that  work  for  which  he  descended  from 
heaven  and  shed  his  blood  ;  to  range  themselves 
under  his  sacred  banners,  and  to  unfurl  them  to  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth.  Under  the  auspices  and 
protection  of  Jesus,  they  could  have  confidence, 
undertake  arduous  labors,  sustain  difficulties,  and 
overcome  obstacles.  With  Him,  they  could  fight, 
conquer,  die  :  nor  would  they  live  or  battle  in  any 
other  manner,  than  after  that  model  which  their 
celestial  Guide  and  Captain  has  pointed  out  by  his 
precepts  and  example.  Nothing  could  more  effi- 
caciously stimulate  the  faint-hearted,  or  encourage 
the  timid,  than  the  virtue  and  majesty  of  that  most 
Holy  Name.  In  adversity  it  would  be  the  sweet- 
est solace,  in  prosperity  the  purest  joy,  in  dark- 
ness the  brightest  light,  in  fatigue  the  most  perfect 
rest.  In  a  word,  all  who  range  themselves  under 
the  standard  of  this  adorable  name,  will  ever  bear 
in  mind  to  what  leader  they  belong,  and  should, 
under  all  circumstances,  prove  themselves  to  be 
worthy  soldiers  of  Christ  Jesus  :  and  while  they 
were  designated  by  the  most  glorious  name, — at 
which   every  knee  must  bend, — the  founder,   who 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  33 

was  as  humble  in  spirit  as  he  was  lofty  in  his 
heavenly  purpose,  was  in  the  habit  of  styling  it 
"  the  lowliest  Society."  * 

The  principal  objects  which  Ignatius  had  in 
view  in  establishing  a  new  religious  order,  at  this 
critical  epoch,  were,  first,  the  instruction  of  the 
people  in  a  manner  adapted  to  their  comprehension 
and  circumstances ;  the  necessity  of  which  be- 
came the  more  manifest  on  account  of  the  Lu- 
theran heresies  which  had  begun  to  spread  them 
selves  abroad ;  and  secondly,  the  missions,  to 
which  all  its  members  generously  devoted  them- 
selves by  vow.  He  foresaw  that  unless  they 
bound  themselves  together,  and  to  their  head,  by 
Obedience,  they  could  not  continue  according  to 
the  great  plan  which  was  meditated,  much  less 
could  it  be  expected  that  it  would  be  endowed  with 
the  principle  of  duration.  And  as  he  had  chosen 
for  their  guide  and  model  Jesus  himself,  and  no 
other,  they  should  imitate  his  detachment  from  all 
worldly  goods,  by  the  vow  of  poverty;  and  sacrifice 

*  "  Quamquam  Ignatius,  ut  erat  modestissimus  .  .  .  Socie. 
tatem  hanc  volebat  minimam  appellare,  ut  ostenderet .  . 
nostri  ordinis  homines  ita  de  se  deque  aliis  sentire  debere .  . 
ut  sese  pro  omnium  minimis  ducant  gerantque."     Orland 
lib.  ii.  63.     How  faithfully  they  have  realized  this  sublime 
theory,  as  a  body,  impartial  history  has  borne  testimony. 


34  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

all  the  pleasures  of  nature,  by  that  of  perpetual 
chastity.  Bat  this  determination  was  not  a  mere 
prudential  scheme :  it  was  the  result  of  mature 
reflection,  fervent  prayer,  discreet  consultation, 
and  not  without  the  inspiration  of  Him,  who  was 
made  obedient  to  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father, 
even  unto  the  death  of  the  cross.* 

Having  resolved  on  the  character  of  his  new 
institution — that  of  a  regular  religious  order — Ig- 
natius next  directed  his  attention  to  its  internal 
administration  and  polity.  Over  the  entire  "Com- 
pany" a  General  was  to  preside,  not  during  a  term 

*  God,  who  is  ever  watchful  over  his  Holy  Church,  has 
never  failed  to  counteract  the  evil  designs  of  great  Heresi- 
archs,  by  the  influence  of  great  Saints  and  Doctors.  Arius 
was  opposed  by  Athanasius  ;  Nestorius  by  Cyril  of  Alexan- 
dria ;  Vigilantius  by  Jerome  ;  Pelagius  by  Augustine ;  and 
Luther  by  Ignatius.  The  triumph  of  the  Divine  power  ap- 
pears more  wonderful  in  the  last,  inasmuch  as,  while  those 
venerable  Fathers  were  illustrious  for  vast  learning  and  ex- 
traordinary eloquence,  Ignatius  possessed  but  little  human 
acquirements,  while  his  soul  was  enriched  with  the  treasures 
of  heavenly  wisdom.  In  him,  we  behold  a  soldier  contend- 
ing with  a  Theologian,  a  Doctor  in  divinity,  and  an  able 
writer.  And  yet,  the  result  proves  with  what  advantage 
that  inspired  soldier  fought  the  battles  of  Truth  and  Virtue 
against  the  powers  of  Error  and  Vice.  See  Bartoli,  Istoria 
della  Compagn.  torn.  v.  p.  10. 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  35 

of  years,  but  for  life.  That  the  novices,  and  all 
who  desired  to  be  enrolled  under  his  baDners, 
should  be  well  tried  by  the  performance  of  the 
spiritual  exercises,  by  serving  in  the  public  hospi- 
tals, by  pilgrimages,  and  other  menial  and  onerous 
functions  :  and  that  all  who  were  admitted  to  the 
solemn  profession,  besides  the  three  ordinary 
vows,  shoulcl  add  another,  by  which  they  promised 
to  subject  themselves  to  the  spiritual  orders  of  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff ;  holding  themselves  ready  to  be 
sent,  at  his  bidding,  to  any  part  of  the  world,  and 
to  any  people,  infidel  or  Christian,  without  demand- 
ing any  outfit  or  emolument  ;  moreover,  to  use 
every  effort  to  instruct  the  young  and  ignorant, 
and  watch  over  the  morals  of  those  committed  to 
their  care  :  and  finally,  to  establish  colleges,  in 
which  a  remuneration  might  be  received  for  the 
education  of  the  alumni  ;  and  Professed  Houses, 
which  should  depend  for  support  on  the  charity 
and  liberality  of  the  public* 

The  earnest  desire  of  Ignatius  now  was  to  obtain 

*  Bobadilla,  it  appears,  objected  to  the  vow  of  educating 
children ;  which  was  afterwards  modified,  and  brought 
under  the  general  vow  of  Obedience :  so  that  no  individual 
could  act  according  to  the  promptings  of  his  own  mind,  but 
only  as  directed  by  the  common  wisdom  of  his  brethien, 
See  Orland.  lib.  ii.  n.  64. 


36  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

for  this  his  new  institute  the  approbation  of  the 
Holy  See.  To  this  end,  he  drew  up  a  sketch — or 
rather  made  a  clear  and  comprehensive  abridgment 
— of  the  whole,  which  he  presented  in  person  to 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Paul  III.  It  was  a  deeply 
interesting  spectacle  to  behold  the  founder  of  one 
of  the  most  illustrious  orders  in  the  Church  kneeling 
at  the  feet  of  the  Father  of  the  Christian  World, 
and  begging  his  approval  of  an  institute  which  has 
since  been  the  admiration  of  all  his  venerable  suc- 
cessors. This  occurred  amid  the  shady  retreats  of 
Tivoli,  whither  the  pope  had  retired  from  the  labors 
and  summer-heat  of  the  metropolis.  The  book  was 
presented  by  the  Cardinal  de  Contarini.  Paul,  hav- 
ing examined  it,  remarked  :  The  finger  of  God  is 
here:  adding,  moreover,  that  "this  Society  would 
prove  an  invaluable  auxiliary  and  splendid  orna- 
ment to  the  Church  in  those  eventful  times."*  This 
verbal  declaration  of  the  sentiments  of  the  Pontiff 
may  be  regarded  as  the  first  approbation  of  the  So- 
ciety.f 

*  Societatem  lianc,  id  temporis  ....  afflictis  Ecclesiap 
rebus,  non  levi  prsesidio  atque  ornamento  fore.  Orland.  lib 
ii.  n.  83. 

f  "  In  bis  great  and  only  extant  work,"  writes  tbe  critic 
above  quoted,  "  Ignatius  Loyola  is  no  dreamer.  His  niind 
resembled  tbe  body  of  bis  great  disciple,  Francis  Xavier 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  37 

But  a  few  years  later,  his  successor,  Julius  III., 
issued  a  solemn  bull  from  St.  Peter's,  dated  in  Au- 
gust, 1550,  by  which,  in  a  formal  and  public  man- 
ner, lie  affixed  his  pontifical  seal  and  approbation  tc 

which,  as  he  preached  or  baptized,  rose  majestically  towards 
the  skies,  while  his  feet  retained  their  firm  hold  on  the 
earth  below.  The  book,  it  is  true,  indicates  a  tone  of  feel- 
ing utterly  removed  from  that  which  animates  the  gay  and 
busy  scenes  of  life  ;  but  it  could  not  have  been  written  ex- 
cept by  one  accustomed  to  observe  those  with  the  keenest 
scrutiny,  and  to  study  the  actors  in  them  with  the  most 
profound  discernment."     Ubi  Supr. 

Concerning  the  book  of  "  Spiritual  Exercises,"  the  reader 
will  see  more  in  the  last  chapter  of  this  work.  Mr.  Ste- 
phens could  not  close  his  admirable  essay  on  Ignatius,  with- 
out atoning,  in  the  eye  of  Protestantism,  for  all  the  true  and 
good  things  he  had  dared  to  indite,  by  styling  Xavier  a 
"  fanatic."  Mr.  Crane,  however,  likewise  a  Protestant, 
diametrically  contradicts  the  former  writer,  by  asserting 
that,  "  never  did  a  cooler  Jiead  keep  time  with  a  more  en- 
thusiastic heart,"  in  his  equally  excellent  (in  many  respects) 
article  on  the  "  Institution"  of  Ignatius.  He  also  admits 
that  "  the  enthusiasm  of  Loyola  was  in  admirable  keeping, 
and  did  not  war  with  his  cold  and  clear  intellect.  His  was 
not  a  fiery  zeal ; — there  was  a  spiritual  composure  in  his 
actions ;  nor  do  we  find  wild  imaginings  and  extravagant 
fancies,  either  of  heart  or  mind,  in  his  maturer  days.  There 
was  evidently  in  him  a  singleness  of  disposition,  that  does 
not  warrant  the  idea  that  his  Society  was  instituted  for  those 
worldly  objects  which  have  formed  the  burden  of  the  ace  a 

4 


38  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

the  new  religious  order.  This  took  plaee  while  the 
Catholic  world,  and  especially  Rome,  were  rejoicing 
under  the  celebration  of  the  Jubilee  :  a  period  truly 
auspicious,  in  many  respects,  to  the  interests  of  re- 
ligion, but  in  none  more  so,  than  in  this  memorable 
event.* 

In  the  origin  of  the  Society,  the  members  natu- 
rally regarded  Ignatius  as  their  superior — for  he 
was  their  master  and  parent  in  religion.  And  well 
were  they  convinced  that  they  could  not  be  gov- 
erned more  wisely  than  by  him,  whom  God  had 
chosen  as  the  founder  of  their  institute,  and  through 
whom  his  spirit  was  infused  into  the  whole  body. 
While  they  were  scattered  through  various  towns 
and  places,  Ignatius,  with  one  or  two  companions, 
remained  at  Rome,  making  that  city — the  metropo- 
lis of  Catholic  unity — the  centre,  likewise,  of  the 
Society.  With  him — their  spiritual  head — all  the 
members  were  intimately  connected  :  to  him  all  re- 
curred for  advice  and  consolation,  which  they  never 
failed  to  derive  from  his   wisdom    and  prudence. 

sations  against  it." — Lives  of  Eminent  Catholic  Mission, 
aries. 

Why  will  great  Protestant  critics  contradict  themselves  so 
egregiously,  when  treating  of  Catholic  men  and  matters  ? 

*  See  the  opening  of  the  Tenth  Book  of  Orlandinns  ;  and 
the  bull  of  Julius  III.,  which  is  given  in  fall. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  39 

With  them  he  felt  himself  completely  identified,  and 
so  comported  himself  in  their  regard,  that  he  seemed 
rather  their  servant  and  inferior,  than  their  ruler 
and  superior.  He  kept  up  a  continual  epistolary 
correspondence  with  them,  informing  them  of  the 
progress  and  increase  of  the  Society,  making  them 
acquainted  with  every  particular  occurrence,  whether 
favorable  or  adverse.  The  effect  was  admirable. 
Among  all  the  members,  of  different  nations,  dis- 
positions, languages,  habits,  and  separated  from 
one  another  by  distance  and  time,  there  was  but  one 
heart  and  one  soul  :  and  this,  too,  in  spite  of  all 
the  difficulties,  prejudices,  and  even  persecutions 
they  were  doomed  to  undergo.  Under  every  trial 
they  were  supported  and  united  by  the  spirit  of 
charity  and  of  zeal,  for  the  advancement  of  God's 
greater  glory,  and  the  salvation  of  mankind  ;  and 
by  their  pure  and  disinterested  conduct  rendered 
themselves  beloved  and  esteemed  by  princes,  dear 
to  the  people,  and  admirable  even  to  those  who 
were  jealous  of  their  success. 

The  wisdom  with  which  the  economy  of  the  So- 
ciety was  regulated  even  from  its  incipiency,  has 
been  remarked  by  all  writers.  To  all  bodies  there 
must  be  a  head.  But  the  mode  of  appointing  that 
head  varies  according  to  the  character  of  the  com- 
munity and  the  nature  of  its  objeet.     The  enlight* 


40  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

ened  policy  of  Ignatius,  carrying  out  in  practice 
the  liberal  disposition  and  generosity  of  his  own 
soul,  ordained  that  the  first  place  should  be  con- 
ferred, not  by  favor  or  arbitrary  appointment,  but 
by  election :  thus  impressing  on  the  Society  one  of 
the  essential  attributes  of  republicanism,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  the  inflexible  discipline  of  the  camp. 
By  the  suffrages  of  the  first  Fathers,  some  of  whom 
were  far  away,  the  general  was  appointed.  Xavier, 
being  on  the  point  of  departing  into  India,  recorded 
and  left  behind  his  vote.  Rodriguez  did  the  same. 
Faber  gave  his  by  letter,  from  Germany,  where  he 
then  was  stationed.  The  reader  will  easily  antici- 
pate on  whom  the  honor  devolved,  by  unanimous 
assent.  Ignatius  had  founded  the  order,  and  it  was 
but  just  that  he  should  preside  over  it  in  the  capa- 
city of  General,  especially  as  he  presented  in  his 
own  person  a  bright  mirror,  in  which  the  virtues 
and  perfection  necessary  for  so  exalted  and  respon- 
sible a  station  were  admirably  reflected. 

The  particulars  of  the  manner  of  deciding  on 
the  choice  of  the  General  are  minutely  detailed  by 
the  author  of  the  History  of  the  Society.*  They 
are  as  follows.  During  three  days  of  mutual  con- 
sultation and  prayer,  the  subject,  so  important  to 


*  Orlandin  lib.  iii.  n.  5. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  41 

the  whole  community,  was  discussed  ;  on  the  fourth, 
the  votes  were  all  placed  in  an  urn,  and  the  doors 
were  closed  ;  after  which,  three  days  more 
were  consumed  in  devout  supplication  to  Heav- 
en. At  the  expiration  of  that  term,  the  suffrages 
were  examined,  and  Ignatius,  without  a  dissent- 
ing voice,  was  declared  the  first  General  of  the 
order.* 

The  original  manuscripts  by  which  their  suffrages 
were  expressed,  were  seen  and  consulted  by  the 
author  of  the  History  of  the  Society  many  years 
after,  who  records  them  in  his  faithful  annals,  for 
the  edification  and  satisfaction  of  posterity.f  Id 
giving  their  opinions,  they  called  God  to  witness, 

*  Ibid.  n.  6.  Ignatius  was  the  only  individual  whose  vote 
differed  from  the  general  voice :  not  actuated  merely  by  the 
ordinary  fitness  of  things,  but  from  an  infinitely  higher  mo- 
tive. So  humble  was  the  opinion  which  he  entertained  of 
himself,  that,  in  his  own  estimation,  he  was  the  least  quali- 
fied among  his  brethren  to  hold  the  office  to  which  they 
raised  him. 

f  Hie  ego  continere  me  non  possum,  quin  ex  ipsis  suffra 
giorum  autographis  velut  e  pulvere  antiquitatis  erutis,  ex 
cerpam  aliquid  quod  et  exemplo  sit  posteris  et  voluptati. 
Orland,  lib.  iii.  n.  7.  The  latinity  of  this  famous  author 
has  been  reputed  among  the  most  classic  and  eloquent  pro- 
ductions of  modern  times.  The  entire  work  is  worthy  of 
its  subject. 

4* 


42  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

that  they  desired  to  raise  to  that  high  dignity  him 
whom,  in  their  consciences,  they  considered  the 
most  worthy  and  best  qualified  ;  and  whom,  were 
they  at  the  point  of  death,  they  would  recommend. 
Cordurius,  in  nominating  Ignatius,  extols  him  in 
terms  of  praise  as  transcendent  as  they  were  de- 
served. He  styles  him  the  most  ardent  and  zealous 
apostle  of  God's  glory  and  man's  salvation  :  as 
such  he  had  always  reputed  him  ;  and  the  more 
readily  did  he  deserve  to  be  made  their  superior, 
towards  whom  he  had  ever  comported  himself  with 
the  humility  of  an  inferior.*  The  entire  declara- 
tion of  Salmeron,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  regarded, 
at  the  present  day,  as  fraught  with  interest,  was 
couched  in  these  words  :  "  In  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ,  amen.  I,  Alphonsus  Salmeron,  the  most  un- 
worthy member  of  the  Society,  having  had  recourse 
to  prayer,  and  weighed  the  subject  with  all  due  de- 
liberation, select,  and  declare  as  my  superior,  and 
the  superior  of  the  whole  community,  Ignatius,  of 
Loyola,  who,  having  begotten  us,  according  to  the 
wisdom  imparted  from  above,  and  nourished  us 
while  infants,  may  now,  that  we  have  grown  strong 
under  the  solid  food  of  obedience,  lead  us  into  the 

*  Ibid.    Next  to  Ignatius,  Cordurius  placed  the  name  of 
Paber.    So  also  did  Xavier 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  43 

rich  and  pleasant  pastures  of  paradise,  to  the  foun- 
tain of  life  ;  that  when  he  shall  be  called  to  give 
back  this  little  flock  to  Jesus  Christ  the  great  Shep- 
herd, we  may  truly  say,  we  are  the  people  of  his 
pasture  and  the  sheep  of  his  hand :  and  he,  likewise, 
may  be  able  to  declare,  Lord,  of  those  thou 
hast  given  unto  me,  not  one  have  I  lost.  Which 
may  Jesus,  the  good  Shepherd,  vouchsafe  to 
grant  us.  Amen."*  Xavier  specified,  in  his 
document,  the  three  vows  of  religion  to  be 
made  to  him  who  should  be  elected  General.  Ig- 
natius expressed  no  preference  for  any  particu- 
lar name,  but  was  in  favor  of  the  one  who  should 
have  the  majority  of  votes,  always  excepting  him 
self.f 

When  the  result  was  made  known  to  him,  h* 
evinced  some  unusual  emotion,  and  made  a  long  ad- 
dress to  his  companions,  pleading  a  want  of  phys- 
ical and  mental  vigor,  and  exhorted  them  to  choose 
some  other  who  might  be  equal  to  the  task.  For 
himself,  he  preferred  to  be  governed  rather  than  to 
govern  ;    and  he  trembled  to  preside  over  others, 

*  Ibid. 

f  Ibid.  n.  8.  Does  not  this  conduct  of  Ignatius  refute  the 
assertion  of  many  a  prejudiced  and  shallow  enemy  of  his 
order  and  his  Church,  that  he  was  driven  forward  by  fanati- 
cism and  ambition  ? 


44  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

when   he   felt   he  was  unable  to  govern   himself. 
Wherefore,  he  conjured  them  again  to  commend  the 
affair  to  God  during  three  days,  and  to  reconsider 
the  choice.     The  Fathers,  having  in  vain  protested 
against  this  measure,  consented,  at  length,  to  com- 
ply with  his  urgent  entreaty.     But  after  the  speci- 
fied period,  the  result  proved  the  same  as  before  ; 
the  choice  fell  again  unanimously  on  Ignatius.    Still 
that  great  but  humble  man  persisted  in  the  wish  to 
decline  the  honor,  when  Laynez,  with  the  candor 
which   distinguished   him,    assured    Ignatius    that 
either  he  should  accept  the  office,  or  the  Society 
must   be   broken   up.*      This    extreme    alternative 
overcame  the  modesty  and  dispersed  the  scruples  of 
Loyola :    from    necessity — and,    as   is   manifestly 
evinced — not  from  inclination,    he   yielded    to   the 
will   of  heaven  ;    especially  as  he  was  warned  to 
contend  no  longer  against  its  manifestation,  by  a 
venerable  priest  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis,  who 
was  his  confessor  and  spiritual  adviser.    In  the  soli- 
tudes of  the  monastery  on   Mount  Janiculum,  he 
spent  several  days  in  retreat  and  works  of  penance; 
and,  yielding  with  serene  resignation  to  his  lot,  re- 


*  "  Pater,  munus  accipe,  quod  tarn  perspicue  Deus  tibi  iiu- 
ponit,  vel  quod  ad  me  pertinet,  dirimatur  Societas."  Orland. 
lib.  iii.  n.  8. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  45 

turned,  with  new  ardor  and  increased  zeal,  to  the 
bosom  of  his  companions.* 

In  the  hands  of  the  General,  no  little  power  was 
placed  by  the  regulations  of  the  Institute,  and  the 
approbation  of  the  Holy  See.  All  the  offices  of  the 
Society  were  at  his  discretion  ;  and  not  left  to  the 
zeal  or  disposal  of  individual  members.  He  should, 
however,  have  his  counsellors,  without  whose  con- 
sent no  new  constitutions  could  be  framed,  no  ex- 
isting ones  changed  ;  no  colleges  or  houses  could 
be  alienated  or  dissolved.  In  other  things  of  less 
importance,  the  General,  aided  by  the  advice  of  his 
brethren,  as  far  as  he  may  see  fit  to  be  directed  by 
it,  shall  have  authority  to  order  and  command 
whatever  he  may  deem  most  conducive  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  good  of  the  community,  f  With 
regard  to  the  members  of  the  Society,  they  are 
bound  to  recognize  a  supreme  authority  and  power 
in  the  General,  in  all  things  relating  to  the  admin- 
istration, correction,  and  government  of  the  order:  a 

*  He  entered  upon  the  office  of  General,  on  the  19  th  of 
April,  A.  D.  1541 ;  and  with  his  companions,  having  visited 
the  seven  churches  of  Rome,  solemnly  renewed  his  vow  be- 
fore the  altar  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  in  the  Basilic  of 
Saint  Paul.     Tanner,  Soc.  Jes.  Europ.,  p.  19. 

f  See  the  bull  of  Julius  in.,  Exposc-it  debitum,  &c  Apud 
Orland.,  lib.  x.  n.  5. 


4:6  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

power  that  must  be  always  tempered  with  benignity, 
charity,  and  mildness.  They  must  not  only  evince  a 
perfect  obedience  to  him,  but  must  contemplate  in 
his  person,  and  keep  present  before  their  eyes,  Jesus, 
from  whom  they  have  derived  their  appellation.* 

The  Society  was  composed  of  various  grades, 
among  which  are  temporal  coadjutors,  whose  duty 
it  is  to  assist,  by  their  manual  labor  and  employ- 
ment, the  Fathers  who  are  engaged  in  their  sacer- 
dotal and  missionary  avocations.  The  lot  of  these 
"  Brothers"  is  pronounced  "  most  happy,"  by  the 
historian  whom  I  follow.*)*  For,  they  are  participa- 
tors of  the  treasures  of  merit  earned  by  the  spirit- 
ual fatigues  and  perseverance  of  the  Fathers. 
They  are  removed  from  dangers  and  cares,  an 
they  realize  in  themselves  the  promises  whici 
Christ  has  made  to  all  who  perform  works  ot 
charity.  The  spiritual  coadjutors  were  those  Fa- 
thers, who  stood  ever  ready  to  carry  on,  with 
greater  security — not  being  subject  to  the  nod  of 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff — the  local  affairs  of  the  Soci- 

*lbid.  n.  20. 

■j-  Quorum  multis  nominibus  beata  sore  est.  Lib.  vi.  n.  1. 
Anno  1546.  Many  of  the  early  lay-brothers  were  distin- 
guished for  their  heroic  virtues,  but  especially  Rodriguez, 
who  is,  to  tliis  day,  regarded  as  a  shining  model  for  his 
brethren  of  the  same  grade  in  the  Society. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  47 

ety  and  of  religion.  They  constituted  by  far  the 
major  part  of  the  members.  For,  the  "  professed," 
or  those  who  made  the  fourth  vow  to  the  Holy  See, 
were  liable  to  be  sent,  at  any  moment,  to  remote 
parts;  and  the  qualifications  by  which  it  was  es- 
sential that  they  should  be  characterized,  neces- 
sarily rendered  the  number  comparatively  small. 
Exalted  piety,  prudence,  and  virtue,  should  be  uni- 
ted to  profound  and  general  learning,  superior  tal- 
ent, and  mature  experience. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Ignatius  that  his  rising 
order  should  be  illustrious  more  on  account  of  the 
virtues  of  his  religious,  than  of  their  numbers.  For 
this  reason,  when  postulants  for  reception  made 
application  to  him,  none  were  admitted  whose  dis- 
positions, conduct,  talents,  learning,  and  reputation 
had  not  previously  undergone  a  rigid  scrutiny. 
Erudition  was  always  a  powerful  recommendation  , 
but  not  without  piety  and  experience,  so  necessary 
at  that  calamitous  epoch  of  the  Church,  when  dis- 
soluteness of  morals  in  the  clergy  was  made  the 
ostensible  cause  of  the  religious  revolution  in 
Germanv,  and  when,  in  the  ranks  of  the  Reform- 
ers,  were  reckoned  not  a  few — apostates  from  the 
mother  Church — who  wielded  great  learning  and 
fatal  talents  against  the  cause  of  truth.* 

lib.  v.  n.  3. 


48  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

He  wished  all,  of  every  grade,  to  be  strictly 
united  together  by  the  bonds  of  fraternal  charity  ; 
and  that  virtue,  which  was  the  distinguishing  char- 
acteristic of  the  primitive  Christians,  he  longed 
to  see  the  conspicuous  prerogative  of  the  Society. 
The  name  it  bore  should  not  be  an  empty  decora- 
tion ;  but  should  be  indicative  of  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  which  animated  every  heart.  They  should 
patiently  endure  each  other's  failings  ;  the  high  m 
office  and  distinction  should  be  lowliest  in  spirit,  and 
when  necessary,  before  the  community  :  while  the 
inferior  in  rank  and  qualifications,  should  be  free 
from  every  sentiment  of  envy  or  jealousy,  and  serve 
God  and  discharge  their  respective  duties  to  the 
Society  with  edification,  submission,  and  humility. 
This  "new  commandment"  of  charity  was,  in  effect, 
the  foundation  of  the  whole  fabric  of  Loyola's  insti- 
tute.* The  better  and  more  securely  to  carry  it 
into  general  effect,  he  determined  to  remove  from 
his  children  all — and  especially  one — of  the  great- 
est obstacles  to  its  consummation.  This  was  the 
renunciation  of  all  hope  of  ecclesiastical  preferment 
and  honors.  The  particular  reasons  which  actuated 
aim  in  this  wise  regulation    are    assigned  by  Or 

*  In  the  language  of  our  historian :  "  Hoc,  itaque,  novum 
mandatum  pro  fundamento  et  radice  sancta  Iiebc  Societai 
habet."— Lib.  xi.  n.  43. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  49 

landinus,   and    may   be   comprised   in   the   follow- 
ing :* 

1.  Because  the  number  of  distinguished  mem- 
bers, in  a   new  Society,   must  necessarily  be   so 
small,   that  were   they  to  be  taken   from   it   and 
raised  to  dignities,  the  Society  would  suffer  from 
the  privation  of  their  services  in  her  own  advance- 
ment and  welfare.     2.  Because,  when  one  is  thus 
honored,   the  peace  of  others  may  be  ruffled  ;  for, 
when  the  glare  of  glory  surrounds  the  brows  of 
one,  others,  who  stand  near,  might  be  dazzled  by 
it, — whereas,  if  seen  only  at  a  distance,  and  out  of 
the  precincts  of  their  own  order,  it  vanishes  almost 
as  soon  as  it  appears  upon  their  view.    3.  Because, 
the  means  taken  to  obtain  honors,  might  not  al- 
ways be  compatible  with  the  pure  and  simple  spirit 
of  a  religious  life  :  they  might  introduce  party  feel- 
ing and  political  feuds.    4.  Because,  precluding, the 
hope  of  preferment,  they  who  entered  the  Society 
must  be  influenced  by  no  other  motive  than  the 
love  of  perfection.     5.  Because,   by  this  arrange- 
ment, ambition — that  pernicious  serpent — would  be 
kept  aloof  from  this  religious  paradise.    6.  Because, 
the  members  of  the  order  could  be  more  free  in 

*  lib.  vi.  n.  37,  38,  39,  40,  41,  43,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48^ 
49,50. 

5 


50  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

offering  their  services,  and  devoting"  their  resources, 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  and  the  peace  of 
governments.     For  they  cannot  but  be  regarded  as 
disinterested  ;  and  will,  on  this  very  account,  pos- 
sess greater  weight,  and  exercise  a  more  salutary 
influence.     7.  Because  all  were  destined  to  labor 
with  equal  energy  and  perseverance  :  and  it  being 
impossible  to  reward  all,  some  might  deem  them- 
selves neglected  ;  and  there  would  be  danger  of 
creating  contentions   and  complaints.      For   there 
can  be  no  concert,  where  there  is  a  striving  after 
dignities.     8.  Because  the  members  would  always 
fceep  before  their  eyes  the  rewards  prepared  for 
them  in  a  better  world ;  having  here,  in  their  trials, 
persecutions  and  missionary  labors,  no  other  ob- 
ject than  the  glory  of  God,  the  propagation  of  truth, 
and  the  salvation  of  the  human  race.     9.  Because 
religious,  who  are  debarred  from  rising  to  the  emi- 
nence of  the  great,  will  not  be  regarded  by  them 
with  the  least  sentiment  of  diffidence  or  suspicion. 
Great  men  are  often  jealous  of  inferiors  in  rank, 
who  may  have  the  chance  of  being  raised  to  an 
equality  with  themselves.      But,   having  no  such 
chance,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  things,  those  in- 
feriors will  be  loved  and  respected  in  their  humble 
position  in  the  Church.     10.  Because  they  who  are 
decorated  with  honors,  if  more  friendly  to  some 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  51 

than  to  others,  in  the  same  order,  will  evince  great- 
er partiality  to  the  former  than  the  latter.  Hence 
the  wisdom  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiffs  in  appointing 
Protectors  for  religious  societies,  never  select  a 
prelate  for  that  from  which  he  was  taken,  in  order 
to  prevent  such  favoritism.  11.  Because  individ- 
uals raised  from  an  order  to  the  high  posts  of  the 
Church,  are  sometimes  most  obnoxious  to  that  very 
order,  and,  not  seldom,  interfere,  to  the  disadvan- 
tage of  the  community,  with  its  government  and 
discipline.  12.  Because  Ignatius  desired  that  his 
disciples  should  seek  the  shade  of  a  retired  life,  and 
court  the  humility  and  the  poverty  of  the  Cross.  In 
this  he  followed  the  maxims  of  the  greatest  saints 
in  the  Church  ;*  who  contended  not  only  in  words, 
but,  likewise,  by  their  own  example,  that  hon- 
ors, far  from  being  coveted,  should  be  carefully 
shunned. 

These,  among  others,  were  the  motives  which 
prompted  Ignatius  to  close  the  doors  of  ecclesias- 
tical dignity  upon  all  the  members  of  the  Society. 
In  such  a  manner,  that  no  one  was  free  to  accept 
honors  even  when  offered,  unless  by  an  express 
command  of  the  Vicar  of  Christ :  and,  in  such  an 

*  Apologetic  S.  Greg.  Naz.  See  also  the  opinions  oi 
Saints  Dominic  and  Francis  on  this  subject,  in  Orlandinu^ 
lib.  vi.  n.  51, 


52  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

event,  the  individual  promoted  ceased  to  belong  to 
the  body  from  which,  even  reluctantly  and  by  obe- 
dience, he  found  himself  separated.* 

This  feature  of  the  Institute  has  been  regarded 
by  wise  men  as  one  of  the  most  judicious  and  ex- 
cellent character.  And  I  cannot  but  entertain  the 
belief  that  to  it,  in  a  singular  degree,  must  be  at- 
tributed the  unity  and  powerful  consistency  by 
which  the  Society  has  ever  been  distinguished. 
It  secured  the  talents,  learning,  virtues,  and  other 
qualifications  of  its  members  for  its  own  use.  The 
elements  of  greatness  were  not  permitted  to  be 
scattered.  They  were  blended  and  consolidated 
in  one  mighty  and  splendid  mass,  from  which  grew 
up  the  towering  and  magnificent  whole,  which, 
during  three  centuries,  has  stood  a  monument  of 
wonder  and  veneration  to  the  world. 

Another  remarkable  provision  of  Ignatius  was, 
that  the  members  of  the  Society  should  not  be 
designated  by  any  particular  dress,  or  any  extra- 
ordinary system  of  life.     Their  habit  was  common 

*  Delatos  autem  honores  nisi  diserti  praecepti  vis  adigat 
et  Pontifex  ipse  compellat  eadem  voti  religione  recuset. 
Orlandin.  lib.  vi.  n.  52.  By  this  positive  compulsion,  several 
Jesuits,  even  in  the  early  history  of  the  order,  were  com 
pelled  to  accept  of  the  purple.  Among  those  the  most  ill  us 
trious  were  Bellarmine,  Pallavicinus,  and  Toletus. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  53 

to  all  the  clergy — their  mode  of  life  conformable  to 
the  usages  of  the  edifying  secular  clergy.  Rigors, 
penances,  mortifications,  were  to  be  left  to  the  de- 
votion and  fervor  of  inferiors,  regulated  and  ap- 
proved of  by  superiors.  So  that,  in  the  language 
of  the  historian,  their  offering  to  God  should  be 
"  reasonable  " — rationabUe  obsequium* 

The  motive  of  this  provision  is  given,  with  great 
freedom,  by  Olauhis,  in  his  answer  to  the  Sor- 
bonne,f  who  found  fault  with  the  Institute  on  this 
account.  "  That  such  learned  Doctors,"  he  writes, 
"  should  censure  us  for  not  being  distinguished  by 
dress  from  the  secular  clergy,  is,  indeed,  extraor- 
dinary, when  we  know  that  this  very  circumstance 
has  been  approved  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiffs,  and 
by  the  wisest  and  most  venerable  men.  For  all 
have  judged  it  prudent  that  we,  who  have  not 
chosen  an  idle,  or  monastic,  or  solitary  life,  but 
one  of  labor,  and  continual  occupation  in  the  wel- 
fare of  our  neighbors,  should  follow  only  the  com- 
mon laws  of  a  Christian  life  :  and  that  there  should 

*  Lib.  x.  n.  25.  Rationabile  corporis  obsequium,  prout 
expediat,  offeratur. 

f  The  language  of  the  Doctors  of  the  Sorbonne  against 
the  Society  is  very  strong  and  condemnatory.  One  would 
hardly  be  prepared  to  expect  to  find  such  abusive  language 
from  so  refined  a  university.     Orland.  lib.  xv.  p.  45. 

5* 


54  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

be  nothing  in  our  dress,  and  external  deportment, 
to  distinguish  us  from  edifying  secular  priests, 
whose  coadjutors  we  desire  to  be.  No  new  rigor 
should  be  required,  at  least  as  a  general  rule,  lest 
it  might  prove  an  impediment  to  the  undergoing  of 
great  labors,  to  which  the  Society  devotes  her  mem- 
bers. No  peculiar  distinction  from  the  secular 
clergy,  inasmuch  as  our  founder  meant  to  require 
of  us  nothing  more  than  should  be  practised  by  all 
good  priests.  Hence  Paul  III.,  Julius  III.,  and 
Marcellus  II.,  were  in  the  habit  of  styling  us  "  re- 
formed priests  : "  as  also,  at  the  present  day,  Paul 
IV.,  who,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  not  only 
the  friend,  but  the  professed  admirer,  of  our  Insti- 
tute  It  is  our  object  to  incite  the   secular 

clergy,  with  the  Divine  assistance,  not  to  change 
their  dress,  but  to  discharge  their  ecclesiastical 
duties,  with  minds  free  from  every  temporal  con- 
sideration, burning  with  charity  towards  their 
neighbors,  directed  by  true  humility,  and  perfect 
purity  of  intention.  To  this  end,  we  have  re- 
course, according  to  the  requisition  of  our  Insti- 
tute, to  frequent  examination  of  conscience,  assid- 
uous mental  prayer,  imploring  God  that  in  all  our 
thoughts,  words,  desires,  and  actions,  we  may  have 
the  grace  to  refer  all  to  His  greater  glory.  We 
understand  well,  that  we  have  separated  ourselves 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  55 

from  the  world  by  special  vows,  in  order  that,  for- 
getting ourselves  and  our  personal  interests,  we 
may  live  for  Him  alone,  to  whose  service  we  have 
wholly  and  thoroughly  consecrated  our  lives."  * 

*  Ibid.  n.  50.  Olauius  replies  to  the  severe  and  uncourt- 
eous  objections  of  the  Sorbonne  with  dignity,  candor,  and 
eloquence.  His  address  may  be  regarded  as  the  first,  and 
ablest  vindication  of  the  institute. 

Others  have  been  written  at  various  epochs ;  the  most  re- 
cent has  just  appeared  in  France,  from  the  pen  of  Father  de 
Ravignan,  entitled  "  De  l'existence  et  de  l'institut  des  Jesu- 
ites."  From  which,  that  the  reader  may  become  acquainted 
with  some  of  the  minutiae  of  the  order,  I  extract  the  follow- 
ing from  the  third  chapter  : 

"THE   DAY  OF   A  JESUIT. 

"At  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  bell  sounds  for  ris- 
ing; the  brother,  named  the  '  Brother  Excitatory  passes 
through  the  chambers,  and  warns  them  to  rise  with  the 
pious  salutation :  '  Benedicamus  Domino.'  A  quarter  of  an 
hour  after  he  returns  again,  to  see  that  punctual  obedience 
has  been  rendered  to  this  first  duty  of  the  rule. 

"  Thus  an  exact  discipline  ever  comes  in  aid  of  personal 
good-will.  Custom,  then,  calls  the  religious  of  the  Society 
into  the  chapel,  to  the  feet  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  At 
half-past  four  every  one  returns  to  nis  cell,  to  devote  him- 
self to  meditation  for  an  hour. 

"  The  Angelus  Bell  terminates  the  meditation ;  the  priests 
say  Mass  in  succession ;  and  after  the  thanksgiving  is  fin- 
ished, the  course  of  daily  occupations  commences.    Of  these 


i><5  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

From  this  exposition  of  one  of  the  earliest 
Fathers  of   the  Society,    we  can    clearly  perceive 

there  is  an  ample  store ;  and  I  may  affirm,  that  time  is  a 
possession  which,  within  our  houses,  is  as  much  taken  from 
the  Jesuit,  as  honor  and  liberty  are  denied  him  from  with- 
out, though  from  far  different  motives. 

"  Some  hours  are,  however,  reserved  for  solitary  labor, 
and  for  study.  Some,  and  by  far  the  greater  number,  are 
required  to  apply  to  the  laborious  and  slow  preparations 
demanded  for  public  preaching  ;  others  devote  their  time 
to  scientific  and  historic  researches.  All  are  employed  in 
the  active  functions  of  the  ministry  of  souls,  which,  in 
general,  leave  little  room  for  peaceful  leisure.  Moreover, 
unless  imperious  necessity  of  the  rule  should  require  the 
religious  strictly  to  interdict  access,  his  poor  cell  is  almost 
constantly  besieged.  And  there  men,  of  all  conditions,  and 
of  all  opinions,  are  allowed  freely  to  present  themselves  ; 
misfortune  in  every  shape,  affliction  under  every  form,  come 
to  excite  our  compassion  and  our  zeal.  The  statistics  of  the 
visitors  of  a  single  day  to  any  one  of  us,  would  often  form 
a  very  curious  history.  The  police,  not  unfrequently,  takes 
its  share  ;  busy  schemes  of  worldlings  seek  to  have  theirs  , 
the  larger  portion  will  remain  for  the  unfortunate  who  come 
with  confidence  to  ask  from  us  consolation  and  truth 

"  Is  this  obedience,  slavery,  or  freedom  ? 

" '  0  slavery !  which  the  insolence  of  man  is  not  ashamed 
to  call  liberty ! '  said  Fenelon ;  and  it  was  the  exclamation 
of  a  noble  heart  and  a  splendid  genius. 

"  Thus  the  religious  is  no  longer  a  slave ;  he  no  longer 
makes  use  of  human  caprice,  the  senses,  pride,  nor  the 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  57 

the  object  of  Ignatius  in  not  designating  his  dis- 
ciples by  any  extraordinary  or  particular  habit. 
But,  though  they  resembled  the  secular  clergy  in 
dress,  they  were  distinguished  from  them  by  rules 
of  seclusion  and  silence  to  which  the  same  vener- 
rable  writer  refers,  in  these  terms  :  "  With  respect 
to  retirement,  we  have  this  rule,  that  no  one 
can  go  out  of  the  house  without  notifying  the 
Janitor  that  he  has  permission,  and  this  we  observe 
with  great  severity.  In  regard  to  silence,  these 
are  our  rules  :  we  not  only  have  times  specified 
for  conversation,  but  also  the  subject  of  conversa- 
tion, and  the  persons  with  whom  we  are  to  con- 
verse. No  one  is  allowed  to  discourse  of  merely 
secular  things,  particularly  of  war  which  may  be 
carried  on  among  Christian  princes  ;  in  praise  or 
condemnation  of  nations,  or  provinces,  or  rulers;  but 
of  those  topics  only,  which  may  conduce  to  piety, 
edification,  and  mutual  charity.     Moreover,  no  one 

passions  :  he  treads  his  tyrants  beneath  his  feet.  He  is  at 
full  freedom,  in  sure  paths ;  truth  and  prudence  regulate 
his  steps.  He  is  free :  for  he  obeys  the  wisdom  of  God ;  and 
obeys  for  the  purpose  of  devoting  himself  to  useful  labors, 
to  all  the  labors  necessary  to  promote  the  eternal  well-being 
of  humanity.  '  Soldier,  go  plant  thyself  at  the  head  of  that 
bridge :  thou  wilt  remain  there ;  thou  wilt  die  there,  we 
shall  pass  on.' — '  Yes,  General.'  " 


58  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

can  speak  with  any  but  persons  of  the  house, 
without  the  Superior's  permission :  nor  can  the 
younger  members  speak  with  all,  but  with  those 
only,  from  whose  conversation  it  is  believed  they 
can  derive  the  greatest  fruit.  Nor  can  they  con- 
verse at  any  time,  but  only  one  hour  after  dinner, 
and  another  after  supper.  Once  a  week,  and  on 
festival  days,  a  somewhat  greater  license  is  grant- 
ed. Whoever  transgresses  these  rules,  is  severely 
dealt  with."* 

It  was  the  fate  of  the  Society — as  it  was  that  of 
Christianity — to  be  persecuted  in  its  very  origin. 
Not  only  in  France,  by  the  most  famous  University 
of  Paris,  but  likewise  at  Salamanca  and  Toledo  ; 
and  in  Portugal  and  elsewhere.*)*  This  perse- 
cution was  waged,  as  Father  Olauius  remarks,J 
by  three  kinds  of  adversaries  (excepting,  however, 
the  Doctors  of  the  Sorbonne.)  First,  by  heretics,  or 
men  of  suspicious  faith,  with  whom  there  was  an 
incessant  war,  especially  in  Germany.  Secondly, 
by  men  of  loose  morals,  who  could  not  endure  the 
reproach  and  condemnation  which  the  rigid  morals 
of  the  Jesuits  constantly  pronounced  against  them 

*  Id.  Ibid.  n.  52. 

f  Lib.  viii.  n.  n.  43,  44.  xi.  n.  57.  xii.  n.  54. 

}  Orland.  lib.  xv.  n.  58. 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  59 

Thirdly,  avaricious  schoolmasters,  priests,  and 
monks,  who  loudly  complained,  in  the  name  of 
their  "  craft,"  because  the  gratuitous  education 
conferred  by  the  Society  was  detrimental  to  their 
pecuniary  interests  :  or  because  the  duties  of  the 
ministry  were  discharged  without  any  expense  to 
the  faithful.  "  The  persecution  carried  on  by  the 
two  first  classes,"  adds  Olauius,  "we  consider  as 
contributing  to  our  gain  and  glory ;  those  of  the 
other,  we  will  endeavor  to  bear  with  constancy 
and  patience,  rendering  always  good  for  evil."* 
A  noble  sentiment !  and  worthy  of  the  Society 
which  is  named  after  the  founder  of  a  religion  of 
charity  and  peace. 

The  diffusion  of  education,  after  a  long  period  of 
comparative  ignorance,  throughout  the  world,  was, 
as  I  mentioned  above,  one  of  the  main  objects  of 
the  institute  of  Ignatius,  and  an  object  which 
lay  very  near  his  heart  f    The  rays  of  intellectual 

*  Ibid.  n.  58. 

f  This  most  arduous,  but,  <wrtainly,  most  useful  ministry 
engaged,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  the  attention  of  Ignatius 
for  it  was  the  best  calculated  *o  stay  the  evils  of  the  times, 
and  root  into  the  young  mind  the  hallowed  principles  of 
truth.  Hence  Bartoli  well  remarks :  "  Dove  questo  del  ben 
4  alevare  la  groventu  fin  da'  suoi  pm  teneri  anni,  somma- 
mente  necessario,  e  in  ogni  tempo,  c  in  ogm  luogo  ha  da£ 


60  ST.    IGNA'iIUS. 

light  had,  some  years  before,  again  appeared,  break 
ing  with  renovated  splendor  over  Italy.  That  light 
was  first  ushered  in  by  the  agency  of  the  Church, 
in  whose  bosom  had  been  perpetuated  and  preserved 
the  spark  of  science,  which,  kindled  by  the  magic 
breath  of  Leo  X.,  burst  forth  into  a  flame  that  has 
since  spread  itself  over  all  the  civilized  earth.  But 
in  order  to  give  this  flame  a  proper  and  successful 
impulse,  the  aid  of  prudent  and  enthusiastic  minds 
was  necessary.     Among  these,  Ignatius  stood  em- 


all  compagnia,  piu  collegi  egli  solo  che  forse  tutti  gli  altri 
insieme."  The  greatest  men  of  the  times  united  in  paying 
a  just  tribute  to  the  schools  of  the  Society.  The  famous 
Navarro  (Miscell.  69,  de  Orat.)  declared  that  Studiorum 
Pietatis  et  litterarum  conjunctione,  maximam  orbi  Christiano, 
prmsertim  circa  pueros,  et  adolescentes,  utilitatem  importa- 
runt,  et  important.  The  Cardinal  of  Augsburg,  and  the 
Electors  of  Treves  and  Mentz,  adopted  in  their  States  the  sys- 
tem of  the  Society.  Super  institutions  juventutis  et  norma 
institutionis,  quam  servat  Societas  et  ah  omnibus,  licet  nominx 
Societatis  non  multum  addictis,  fuit  judicata  melior  magis- 
que  proficua  Reip.  et  accommodatior  vita  Christiana;.  Henry 
IV.,  king  of  France,  acknowledged  that  the  primitive  glory 
of  the  University  of  Paris  was  restored  by  the  Society: 
Nunc,  ex  Jesuitarum,  discipulorum  amulatione,  ad  suum 
pristinum  jlorem  tota  unioersitas  revocata  est.  All  these 
references  will  be  found  verified  in  the  fifth  volume  of  Bar 
toli,  chap.  xiii.    Second  book,  p.  136  et  seq. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  61 

inently  prominent :  and  posterity  will  have  no  diffi« 
culty  in  acknowledging,  that  to  him  the  republic  of 
letters  owes  vastly  more  than  to  any  other  indivi- 
dual of  any  age.  In  this  admission,  the  enemies  of 
the  Society  cannot  but  unite  their  reluctant  testi- 
mony with  the  testimony  of  its  devoted  friends.  As 
early  as  the  year  1556,  schools  under  its  direction 
were  called  for,  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  To  men- 
tion only  a  few  cities  in  Italy  :  Brescia,  Arezzo,  An- 
cona,  Spoleto,  and  Mazzara  were  loud  in  their  en- 
treaties, although,  on  account  of  the  paucity  ol 
members,  they  could  not  be  responded  to.  Rimini, 
Sienna,  and  Catanea  in  Sicily,  were  more  fortunate.* 
And  so  great  was  the  reputation  of  the  Jesuits  as 
teachers  of  youth,  and  directors  of  seminaries  ot 
learning,  that  no  less  than  a  hundred  colleges  were 
established  in  the  old  and  new  worlds,  before  the 
death  of  their  venerated  founder.  Of  these  the  prin- 
cipal were  at  Paris,  Padua,  Louvain,  Lisbon,  Goa, 
Cologne,  Bologna,  Tivoli,  Venice,  Palermo,  Vienna, 
Rome,  Florence,  Naples,  Ferrara,  Modena,  Cordova, 
Syracuse,  Prague,  Sienna,  and  two  in  Brazil.f    The 


*Id.  lib.  xvi.  n.  2,  3,  4. 

f  W.  lib.  x.  n.  108.  lib.  xiii.  d.  53.  lib.  iii.  n.  92.  lib.  iv.  n. 
10.  lib.  iv.  n.  104.,  etc.,  etc.  It  would  be  going  far  beyond 
the  object  I  have  in  view  to  enter  into  the  particulars  of  th« 

6 


62  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

Roman  college,  from  its  conspicuous  position,  in 
the  metropolis  of  the  Catholic  world,  and  under  the 
eyes  of  the  Pontiffs,  was  naturally  the  object  oi 
greatest  solicitude  and  interest  in  the  mind  of  Ig 
natius.  This  he  desired  to  be  a  model  for  all  the . 
others,  and  placed  over  it  as  superintendent  th« 
celebrated  Father  Olauius,  to  whom  I  had  occasion 
to  refer  the  reader  above  ;  a  personage  whose  em- 
inent talents  and  profound  erudition  imparted  a 
splendid  reputation  to  the  famous  Institution  over 
which  he  presided.*  As  an  appurtenance  to  this 
college,  Ignatius,  always  actuated  by  munificent 
plans,  and  though  poor,  never  distrusting  the  favor 
of  Divine  Providence,  added  a  beautiful  villa.  This 
edifice  he  erected  near  the  baths  of  Antoninus,  not 
far  from  the  church  of  St.  Balbina,  as  a  retreat  for 
the  sick,  and  a  place  of  relaxation  for  the  students, 
during  the  season  of  vacation  from  study.*)"  To 
the  quiet  shades  of  this  villa  he  himself  withdrew, 
just  before  his  death:  the  details  of  which  are  faith- 
foundation  of  these  various  colleges.  I  have  enumerated  a 
few,  in  a  general  way,  merely  to  show  how  widely  extended 
was  the  system  of  education  adopted  by  the  Society,  during 
he  lifetime  of  Ignatius ;  and  how  much  he  contributed  to 
the  cause  of  letters  and  religion. 
*  Vid.  lib.  xiii.  n.  5. 
f  lib.  xv.  n.  6. 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  63 

fully  described  by  Orlandinus.  "  Three  things  our 
blessed  Father  desired  to  see  accomplished  before 
his  departure  from  this  world  :  the  Spiritual  Exer- 
cises approved  by  the  authority  of  the  Holy  See, 
the  Society  confirmed,  and  the  Constitutions  fin- 
ished." Having  obtained  these,  he  longed  to  be 
dismissed  in  peace.  His  health  had  now  declined  : 
worn  down,  not  so  much  by  the  weight  of  years,  as 
by  extreme  mortification  and  wasting  labors 
In  the  month  of  June,  1556,  he  began  to  grow 
weaker  than  usual,  and  unable  to  attend  to  his 
ordinary  affairs.  Feeling  that  the  hour  was  ap- 
proaching to  lay  aside  his  tabernacle  of  flesh, 
he  intrusted  the  administration  of  the  Society 
to  Fathers  John  Polanco  and  Christopher  Madri- 
dio.  The  city,  at  this  juncture,  presented  an 
image  more  of  ancient  warlike  Rome,  than  of 
the  Holy  Capital  of  Christianity.  For  a  fierce 
war  was  raging  between  the  Pope  and  the  Ca- 
tholic king.  Day  and  night  the  loud  and  pro- 
miscuous clamors  of  the  soldiers  and  populace 
were  heard  ;  the  clangor  of  trumpets  rang  ;  the 
roar  of  cannon,  the  noise  of  drums,  and  the  peal 
of  bells,  thundered  and  echoed  over  the  seven  hills. 
To  get  rid  of  this  tumult,  which  he  deplored  and 
loathed,  he  sought  the  solitude  of  the  villa,  which, 
though  within  the  walls,  was,  nevertheless,  remote 


64  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

from  tne  scene  of  arms.*  It  was,  at  first,  appre- 
hended that  an  edifice  not  yet  entirely  finished  or 
dry  might  not  be  salubrious  :  but  a  decision  to  the 
contrary  was  given,  after  strict  examination,  by 
Alexander  Petronius,  an  eminent  physician.  Amid 
the  calm  shades  of  this  place  his  strength  daily 
failed.  The  Fathers,  becoming  alarmed,  caused 
him  to  be  removed  to  the  Professed  House,  where, 
a  few  days  after,  having  received  the  holy  Eucha- 
rist, he  called  to  his  bedside  Polanco,  and,  with  a 
placid  spirit,  requested  that  Father  to  repair  to  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff,  commend  to  him  the  protection 
of  the  Society,  and  ask  his  benediction  upon  it. 
"  Has  it,  then,  come  to  this,  Father,"  replied  Polan- 
co, "that  we  are  to  lose  thee  in  so  short  a  time  1n 
"  God  hath  so  willed  it,"  answered  Ignatius.  "  Go 
to  the  Holy  Father,  and  bring  back  his  blessing  or 
indulgence,  not  only  for  myself,  but  for  all  our 
brethren."  Polanco  inquired  whether  he  might  not 
defer  it  until  the  next  day.     "Do  as  you  please," 

*  Multas  enim  Romana  inaenia  solitudines  includunt, 
observes  Orlandinus,  lib.  xvi.  n.  94.  Tins  was  the  case 
nearly  three  hundred  years  ago  ;  and  even  now,  the  walls  of 
Rome  embrace  within  their  compass  many  places  which  are 
uninhabited  and  solitary.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  villa 
mentioned  above  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  Society,  and 
is  called  Macao. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  65 

^joined  Ignatius.  Polanco  became  seized  with  ter- 
ror, and  immediately,  in  conjunction  with  Turriano, 
the  ordinary  physician  of  the  house,  called  in  Pe- 
tronius,  another,  of  high  repute.  Both,  after  con- 
sulting together,  decided  that  they  feared  no  in- 
stant danger  ;  but,  on  the  day  following,  they  would 
be  enabled  to  pronounce  with  greater  certainty. 
When  the  physicians  withdrew,  Ignatius  took  a 
little  food,  as  usual  ;  and  then  passed  a  great  part 
of  the  night  in  conversing  on  subjects  connected 
with  the  Roman  College  :  after  which,  he  was  left 
alone.  Unable  to  sleep,  he  communed,  during  those 
weary  and  silent  hours,  with  God,  after  whom  his 
soul  panted  with  incessant  aspirations  of  love.  How 
many  varied  reminiscences  then  broke  upon  his 
memory  ;  how  many  thoughts  of  glorious  achieve- 
ments, mingled  with  sentiments  of  deep  humility  ! 
What  wonderful  things  has  not  this  dying  priest 
effected — not  only  for  his  own  times,  but  for  every 
succeeding  age  !  The  interval  between  that  mem- 
orable evening,  when  we  found  him  habited  as  a 
poor  pilgrim,  meditating  on  the  Rubricate,  and  this 
eventful  night — lying,  in  his  last  extremity,  on  his 
solitary  bed — has  been  filled  up  with  deeds  and 
projects  of  immortal  usefulness.  The  palmer  from 
Mount  Serat  has  established  in  the  Church  an  order 
of  religious  men,  whose  zeal,  learning,    sanctity, 

6* 


66  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

and  fame  will  spread  over  Europe,  and  be  bound- 
ed only  by  the  limits  of  the  habitable  globe 
There,  in  his  expiring-  attitude,  he  lies,  placid, 
resigned,  grateful — full  of  merits,  of  glory,  of 
hope.  The  luminary  which  has  enlightened  the 
earth,  is  now  waxing  pale  and  tremulous  :  it 
flickers,  then  brightens  again  for  the  last  time, 
and  is  extinguished.  With  the  adorable  name  of 
Jesus  trembling  on  his  dying  tongue,  jgnatius 
breathed  out  his  saintly  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his 
Creator.* 

It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  sensations  of 
Polanco,  when,  on  entering  the  chamber  where,  the 
previous  night,  he  had  watched  by  the  holy  man, 
he  found  him  dea^^How  despondingly  his  eyes, 
streaming  with  teaft*sJAriveted  themselves  upon 
those  features,  gra&efuljraftd  noble  still  in  death  : 
and  how  endearingJVhe  tSj&raced,  with  the  gi'ief 
of  a  child,  the  venrakde  Tefcains  !  There- -on 
that  silent  couch — lay^rm  boay^f  his  Father,  his 
Founder,  his  Superior.  Tro  SooKJf,  deprived  of 
her  Head,  was  now  reduceft^ft  wrcjfcihood  ;  and 
who  could  be  worthy  to  supply  iris  pjce  ?     Over 

*  He  had  attained  his  sixty-fifth  year  :  his  death  occurred 
fifteen  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Sociaiy  Yid. 
Orlandin.  lib.  xvi.  n.  94,  95,  96,  97,  98,  99. 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  67 

his  death,  the  whole  Church  mourned,  as  for  a  pub- 
lic and  general  calamity.  The  voices  of  the  great- 
est and  noblest  characters  of  the  age  were  raised 
in  deploring  the  melancholy  event,  and  in  com- 
memorating and  blessing  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased. "  Under  his  guidance,"  exclaims  the  Su- 
perior of  the  Barnabites,*  "  the  faith,  religion,  and 
doctrine  of  Christ  were  so  widely  propagated, 
that  they  penetrated  to  the  very  antipodes.  Wasted 
with  many  cares,  and  borne  down  with  the  solici- 
tude for  the  churches,  he  fell  a  martyr  in  retire- 
ment. He  was  the  common  Father  of  all.  He 
soothed  the  mourner's  heart  with  words  of  tender 
sympathy,  poured  into  the  afflicted  soul  the  bal- 
sam of  consolation,  and  extended  aid  and  protec- 
tion to  the  needy  and  forlorn.  .  .  .  May  God  be- 
stow on  him  a  reward  ^f or  his  good  works  !  We 
will  not  cease  to  offqfctihe  Holy  Victim  at  the  altar 
for  such  a  soul^^hile^Sfhers  scatter  over  his 
tomb  the  purple  %o  weasel  These  mysteries  are  the 
lilies  of  theX^riests^'more  fresh  and  acceptable 
to  God  ^Sfoghs  offered  for  a  soul  enjoying,  as 
T-* 

*  In  abetter  written  from  Milan  on  the  occasion  of  the 
demise  of  Ignatius.  Id.  ibid.  n.  124.  This  epistle  is  ad- 
mirable, as  well  for  its  eloquence  as  for  the  tribute  it  pays, 
in  the  name  of  an  entire  religious  order,  to  the  virtues  of 
Ignatius,  and  the  excellence  of  his  Institute. 


68  ST.    IGNATIUS. 

we  believe,  the  infinite  bliss  of  immortal  life. 
For  we  cannot  but  evince  by  these  offerings 
our  undying  veneration  for  him,  no  longer 
among  us,  whom,  while  in  life,  we  venerated  and 
loved."* 

john  Vega,  governor  of  Sicily,  who  had  wit- 
nessed the  incalculable  good  effected  in  that  island 
by  Ignatius,  wrote,  in  a  strain  of  military  eloquence, 
extolling  "  the  trophies  raised  by  the  Society, 
which  would   defy  the  power  of  time,  and  resist 


*  The  Society  had  been  established  only  sixteen  years , 
but  was  spread  through  the  whole  world.  Her  members 
had  preached  the  gospel  in  all  languages,  had  rescued  na- 
tions from  idolatry,  and  united  them  to  the  Church.  One 
hundred  colleges  had  been  established.  All  these  things 
Ignatius  had  the  happiness  to  witness  before  he  was  taken 
away  to  his  heavenly  reward.  He  had,  besides,  seen  one  of 
his  children  lay  down  his  life — dying  a  martyr  for  the  faith 
— Father  Anthony  Criminali.  He  had  beheld  prodigies 
wrought  by  their  hands ;  he  had  witnessed  their  sanctity 
and  merits,  which  won  the  admiration  of  emperors,  popes, 
kings,  and  princes  ;  by  whom  they  were  honored  as  apos- 
tolic nuncios  in  various  parts,  as  orators  and  theologians  in 
the  Council  of  Trent  and  other  synods :  and,  having  en- 
joyed all  these  accumulated  consolations,  and  commend  ng 
his  dear  Society  to  the  ever- vigilant  care  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence,  he  sweetly  closed  his  eyes  to  this  mortal  scene,  and 
slept  in  the  Lord.    See  Tanner,  Soc.  Europ.  p.  23. 


ST.   IGNATIUS.  69 

the  elements  themselves.  Trophies  erected  not 
by  earthly  ambition,  nor  by  vainglory,  but  by 
heroic  zeal  and  disinterested  exertions."*  Sen- 
timents not  less  laudatory,  nor  less  expressive  of 
admiration  and  sorrow,  were  uttered  by  John  III., 
king  of  Portugal,-)"  and  by  the  illustrious  Cardi- 
nals Otho  Truchses,  and  Bartholomew  a  Cu- 
eua.J 

Polanco  declares,  that,  though  he  had  never 
read  of  mortal  as  much  beloved  as  was  Ignatius, 
by  the  whole  Society,  and  though  he  believed  that 
in  the  annals  of  history  no  parallel  could  be  found, 
still  none  of  his  children  were  overcome  with 
grief.  On  the  contrary,  a  new  vigor  seemed  to 
spread  itself  through  all,  a  new  love  cf  labor 
and  perfection,  and  a  new  confidence  and  hope  in 
the  welfare  and  augmentation  of  the  body.  For 
the  spirit  of  their  holy  founder  was  still  with  them, 
and  his  intercession  in  heaven  would  constitute  an 
aegis  of  protection  and  safety,  under  which  they 
would  survive,  and  flourish,  and  be  perpetuated. 
Three  hundred  years  have  confirmed  these  primi- 


*  Ibid.  n.  128. 

f  He  was  accustomed  to  say  that  Ignatius  ought  to  bt 
Pope.    n.  129. 
f  Ibid.  n.  131  and  n.  132 


70  ST.   IGNATIUS. 

tive  hopes,  which  have  been  more  than  realized 
The  glorious  achievements  of  the  Society  are 
blended  with  the  archives  of  universal  history, 
identified  with  the  civilization,  learning,  conversion, 
«nd  prosperity  of  innumerable  countries.  She  has 
nad  her  alternations  of  adversity  and  triumph,  she 
has  passed  through  the  deep  shades  of  night  as 
well  as  the  bright  beams  of  day.  She  has  had 
friends — devoted  and  true — in  every  class  and 
grade  of  life  ;  she  has  encountered,  too,  the  fiercest 
and  most  formidable  enemies,  in  the  same.  She 
has  been  entirely  suppressed  in  Europe,  and  that 
with  the  concurrence  of  a  pope  ;  but  she  has  been 
restored  to  being,  and  covered  with  favors,  by  his 
successors.*  The  memory  of  Ignatius  is  in  bene- 
diction ;  his  name  stands  enrolled,  conspicuous  and 
effulgent^  on  the  catalogue  of  saints.  Of  his  rare 
merits  and  heroic  virtues,  it  is  not  my  province  to 
speak  at  length.  And,  indeed,  it  would  be  an  act 
of  supererogation,  if  not  of  temerity,  in  me,  to  at- 
tempt the   panegyric  of  him  in  whose  praise  the 


*  Since  its  restoration,  the  Society  has  spread  itself 
abroad  anew  with  extraordinary  celerity.  Stripped  of  most 
of  her  anci3nt  houses  and  colleges,  she  provided  others  with 
an  energy  and  success  worthy  of  her  earliest  days  :  and  her 
mtsinbers  aie  again  proving  themselves  to  be  "  the  stoutest 
oarsm^fc  ix*  St.  Peter's  bark." 


ST.    IGNATIUS.  71 

noble  eloquence  of  Bellarmine  was  employed,  and 
before  whose  shrine,  in  prayer  and  veneration,  the 
great  Baronius  knelt.* 

*  In  the  year  1599,  Cardinal  Caesar  Baronius,  one  of  the 
most  learned  chroniclers  of  modern  times,  went,  with  Car- 
dinal Bellarmine,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  death  of  Igna 
tins,  to  the  Professed  House.  After  a  discourse  delivered  by 
the  latter,  over  the  tomb,  Baronius  fell  upon  his  knees, 
with  profound  respect,  and  ordered  the  image  of  the  saint, 
for  the  first  time,  to  be  exposed  to  public  veneration.  For 
all  the  particulars,  consult  Orlandinus,  lib.  xvi.  n.  136. 

"  Loyola  was  a  soldier  to  the  last  breath  he  drew,  a  gen- 
eral whose  authority  none  might  question,  a  comrade  on 
whose  cordiality  all  might  rely,  sustaining  all  the  dangers 
and  hardships  he  exacted  of  his  followers,  and  in  his  reli- 
gious campaigns  a  strategist  of  most  consummate  skill  and 
most  comprehensive  survey.  ...  To  conquer  Lutheranism, 
by  converting  to  the  faith  of  Rome  the  barbarous  and  half- 
civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  was  among  the  earliest  of  his 
projects.  ...  It  was  necessary  that  he  should  select  men 
superior  not  only  to  all  the  allurements  of  appetite  and  the 
common  infirmities  of  our  race,  but  superior  also  to  those 
temptations  to  which  an  inquisitive  mind,  and  abilities  of  a 
high  order,  expose  their  possessor.  .  .  .  Long  he  weighed 
and  most  sagaciously  did  he  decide  this  perplexing  choice. 
li  fell  on  many  who  well  fulfilled  these  conditions." — Ste. 
>uens,  ubi  supr. 


PETEE  FABEB. 


CHAPTER    II. 


PETER   FABER. 


Peter  Fabbk.— How  gained  over  by  Ignatius.  Performs  the  Exercises, 
Is  ordained  Priest.  Teaches  in  the  Univ«r*<ty  of  Rome.  Is  sent  to 
Parma;  and  to  Germany.  His  mission  at  Ratiebonne.  Goes  to  Spain. 
Returns  to  Germany.  His  labors  at  Spires;  and  at  Mentz;  at  Augs- 
burg, and  Cologne.  Is  called  to  Portugal.  Thence  to  Liege.  Returns 
to  Cologne.  Defends  the  Catholic  Faith.  His  manner  of  treating  with 
heretics.  Is  sent  back  to  Portugal.  Goes  to  Castile.  Distinguishes 
himself  at  Salamanca.  Goes  to  Valladolid.  His  influence  at  the  Court 
of  Philip.  Traverses  Madrid  and  Toledo.  Is  deputed  to  the  Council  of 
Trent    Sickens  at  Barcelona,  and  dies  at  Rome. 


The  first  individual  who  associated  himself  with 
Ignatius  was  Peter  Faber,  born  among  the  wild 
mountains  of  Savoy,  of  parents  more  conspicuous 
for  their  piety,  than  distinguished  by  their  lineage; 
and  educated  in  sentiments  of  devotion  under  the 
care  of  Peter  Vegliardo,  an  exemplary  and  holy 
man  ; — "  Who,"  as  Faber  himself  informs  us,  "■  in 
his  teachings,  made  the  pagan  poets  and  profane  wri- 
ters so  many  heralds  of  gospel  morality,  and  ren- 
dered them  all  subservient  to  the  cause  of  Christian 


76  PETER   FABER. 

education.*  Fostered  by  the  tuition  of  such  an 
instructor,  the  ardent  and  susceptible  mind  of  Fa« 
ber  became  inflamed  with  the  love  of  letters  and 
religion,  in  such  a  manner,  that  in  his  twelfth  year, 
wandering"  alone  over  the  silent  fields,  and  musing 
under  the  broad  canopy  of  the  heavens,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  Lord  of  the  universe,  by  making  a 
vow  of  perpetual  chastity  ;  a  vow,  which  he  was 
enabled  the  more  easily  to  observe,  on  account  of 
the  enthusiastic  ardor  with  which  he  pursued  the 
study  of  literature  and  the  sciences.  From  a  sim- 
ple shepherd-boy,  as  he  originally  was,  he  became, 
by  the  dint  of  his  great  talents,  and  the  elevation 
of  his  noble  soul,  an  aspirant  after  the  highest 
attainments  of  learning  :  and,  bidding  adieu  to  his 
native  valleys,  he  resolved  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
Paris,  where,  in  a  short  time,  he  mastered  the 
abstruse  philosophy  of  Aristotle,  which,  with  as- 
tonishing ease  and  correctness,  he  read  and  un- 
derstood in  the  original  Greek.f 


*  Orlandinus,  lib.  i.  n.  76.  He  was  born  in  1506,  on  East* 
ter  Sunday. 

f  Bartoli  asserts  that,  after  having  studied  nine  years 
under  Vegliardo,  Faber  became  master  of  the  Greek  and 
Latin  tongues,  and  so  deeply  versed  in  scholastic  theology, 
that  he  composed  a  Commentary  on  the  "  Master  of  Sen- 


PETER   FABER.  77 

It  was  in  this  gay  metropolis  of  France,  that 
Ignatius  first  became  acquainted  with  this  extraor- 
dinary man.  They  lodged  under  the  same  roof; 
and,  in  return  for  some  kind  offices  rendered  him 
during  that  period,  Faber,  who  had  now  taken  the 
degree  in  philosophy,  offered  his  services  to  Igna- 
tius in  aiding  him  towards  the  prosecution  of  the 
studies  in  which  he  was  then  engaged.  Gradually 
there  grew  up  between  their  congenial  hearts  a 
confidence  and  affection,  which  rendered  them  mu- 
tually happy  and  emulous  in  the  performance  of 
holy  deeds.  Faber  beheld  with  admiration  the 
heroic  virtues  of  Ignatius,  and  Ignatius  was  charm- 
ed with  the  candor,  ingenuousness,  and  ardent 
piety  of  Faber,  who,  casting  aside  all  personal 
considerations,  or  vain-glorious  ideas,  resolved, 
though  a  master  in  human  philosophy,  to  become, 


tences,"  before  he  went  to  the  University  of  Paris.    Tom.  v. 
p.  87. 

Ignatius  and  Calvin  were  at  Paris  at  the  same  time  ; 
where  each  selected  his  disciples  and  companions :  and  it  is 
a  remarkable  fact,  that  their  first  disciples  were  of  the  same 
name — Faber.  "  The  one,"  in  the  language  of  Florimund 
Remond,  "  destined  to  be,  by  his  learning  and  virtue,  the 
scourge  of  heresy ;  the  other,  its  advocate  and  defender.' 
Tanner's  Soc.  Europ.  p.  11. 

1* 


78  PETER   FABER. 

in  spiritual  wisdom,  the  disciple  of  Ignatius.*  No- 
thing could  be  more  in  conformity  with  the  desire  of 
Ignatius  ;  nor  did  he  hesitate  to  undertake  the  task 
of  directing  and  forming  to  a  religious  life  so  emi- 
nent a  scholar.  He  taught  him  to  watch  over  his 
heart,  by  the  use  of  a  daily  examination  of  con- 
science :  to  have  recourse  to  the  tribunal  of  pen- 
ance, and  receive  the  blessed  Eucharist  every 
week,  and  to  struggle  incessantly  against  his  pre- 
dominant passion.f  Having  laid  this  foundation,  it 
was  not  difficult  to  raise  upon  it  that  tower  of  per- 
fection, which  will  afterwards  astonish  the  be- 
holder. Faber  dedicated  himself  to  the  service  of 
the  Church  ;  and  having  gone  through  the  usual 
course  of  theological  studies,  with  the  advice  of 
Ignatius,  he  embraced  the  clerical  state.  Before, 
jowever,  receiving  orders,  he  performed  the  spirit- 
ual exercises,  with  a  loftiness  of  soul  and  gener- 
osity of  purpose  which  are  rarely  to  be  met  with. 
During  the   winter,   which,  that   year,  was  so  in- 

*  Ibid.  n.  78.  The  elegance  of  style  and  fidelity  of  de- 
tails with  which  Orlandinus  treats  of  this  admirable  union 
between  Faber  and  Ignatius,  are  as  pleasing  to  the  classic 
scholar,  as  they  are  edifying  to  the  pious  Christian. 

f  These  rules  of  a  spiritual  life  were  taken  by  Ignatius 
from  the  ancient  fathers  of  the  desert,  especially  the  Abbot 
Serapion,  as  the  historian  remarks ;  iM  supr.  n.  80 


PETER  FABER.  79 

tensely  cold  that  coaches  might  safely  cross  on  the 
frozen  waters  of  the  Seine,  he  undertook  this  ca- 
reer of  penance.*  Glowing  with  fervor  while  all 
was  cold  and  bleak  in  nature,  he  spent  hours  in 
the  open  air  wrapt  in  sublime  contemplations  ;  and 
several  days  without  tasting  any  food.  After  this, 
in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  or- 
dained priest,  A.  D.  1534, — the  first-born,  as  it 
were,  of  the  great  parent  of  the  Society,  and 
through  whose  influence  and  example  two  distin- 
guished doctors  in  theology,  John  Cordurius  and 
Paschasius  Broetus,  were  induced  to  range  them- 
selves under  its  standard.  Having  acquired  no 
ordinary  renown  by  publicly  lecturing  in  the  col- 
lege of  the  Sapienza  at  Rome,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Pope  one  of  the  companions  of  Cardinal 
Ennio  Philonardo  Verulano,  in  his  legation  to 
Parma  ;  in  which  city  he  not  only  won  golden 
opinions  for  erudition  and  wisdom,  but  preached 
the  word  of  God  with  incredible  success.  Multi- 
tudes gathered  not  merely  for  the  purpose  of  ad- 
miring the  surpassing  eloquence  of  the  orator,  but 
also — excited  to  compunction — in  order  to  confess 
their  sins.  With  indefatigable  zeal,  he  instructed 
the  ignorant,  animated   the  secular  clergy  to  the 

*  Ibid.  n.  81. 


80  PETER  FABER. 

more  faithful  discharge  of  similar  dutieo,  and  insti 
tuted  an  association  of  pious  ladies,  whose  office  it 
was  to  go  from  house  to  house  for  the  purpose  of 
teaching  the  catechism  to  young  girls.*  The  admo- 
nitions which  he  left  in  writing  to  the  noble  sodality 
of  Parma,  when  on  the  point  of  quitting  that  city, 
are  fraught  with  maxims  and  rules  of  devotion  and 
piety.")"  The  daily  mode  of  life  he  proposed  to 
them  was  :  at  night,  before  retiring  to  rest,  to  re- 
flect, upon  their  knees,  on  their  last  hour,  on  judg- 
ment, on  the  punishment  of  hell,  and  the  joys  of 
heaven.  On  each  point  they  were  to  meditate  for 
a  few  minutes  only.  This  was  to  be  succeeded  by 
an  examination  of  conscience,  with  a  hearty  sorrow 
for  all  the  sins  committed  during  the  day,  and  a  reso- 
lution to  confess  them  at  a  specified  time.  Finally, 
the  blessing  of  God  should  be  invoked  upon  them- 
selves and  all  the  faithful  living,  that  their  sleep 
might  be  pure  and  tranquil  ;  and  on  the  dead,  that 
they  might  find  solace  and  mercy  beyond  the  tomb. 
The  same  exercises  were  to  be  repeated  every 
morning,  with  the  addition  of  a  chapter  of  the  life 


*  lib.  ii.  n.  78. 

f  They  are  given  in  full  by  our  faithful  historian,  and  will 
richly  compensate  the  attentive  perusal  of  the  learned  reader 
Vid.  lib.  ii.  n.  108, 109,  110. 


PETER  FABEB.  81 

of  Christ,  (if  time  and  circumstances  would  permit,) 
and  assisting  at  the  Divine  Sacrifice.  Every  week 
he  recommended  them  to  approach  the  Holy  Table. 
With  regard  to  the  necessities  of  life,  they  were 
instructed  to  moderate  their  desires,  and  refer  all 
their  labors  and  secular  occupations  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  salvation  of  their  souls.  Blessed 
and  holy  maxims,  which,  if  observed,  would  do 
more  for  the  happiness  and  virtue  of  a  community 
than  a  thousand  Utopian  speculations  of  theorists 
and  philosophers.  With  what  efficacy  these  ad- 
monitions of  the  saintly  man  were  received  and 
cherished,  there  is  abundant  evidence  in  the  fact, 
that  sixty  years  later,  as  Orlandinus  testifies,  that 
sodality  continued  in  a  flourishing  condition.* 

Having  labored  so  successfully  at  Parma,  Fa- 
ber's  next  destination  was  Worms,  in  Germany. 
The  heresies  of  Lutheranism  had  now  taken  deep 
root  on  that  doomed  soil,  and  it  required  an  apostle 
of  no  common  character  to  appear  on  an  arena  of 
religious  conflict  against  the  combined  and  power- 
ful adversaries  of  the  ancient  faith.  The  more  so, 
as  he  was  the  first  of  the  new  order  of  Jesus  sent 
to  face  the  hydra  in  its  own  kindred  realm.  Here, 
it  was  necessary  to  be  armed  with  a  twofold  en« 

*  Lib.  ii.  n.  112. 


82  PETER  FABER. 

ergy — one,  to  be  wielded  against  the  errors  of  the 
country,  the  other  in  vindication  of  the  dogmas  of 
truth.  Each  did  Faber  possess,  and  each  did  he 
exercise,  in  an  eminent  degree,  under  the  special 
influence  of  Moroni,  then  Bishop,  but  afterwards 
decorated  with  the  Cardinal's  hat.*  Many  Luther- 
ans were,  by  his  assiduous  and  convincing  dis- 
courses, brought  back  to  the  fold,  and  innumerable 
Catholics  were  confirmed  in  their  faith,  and  con- 
verted from  their  evil  ways,  by  attending  the  spirit- 
ual exercises,  and  frequenting  his  ascetic  instruc- 
tions^ 

His  stay  at  Worms  was  not  of  long  duration. 
At  the  request  of  the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  he  ac- 
companied the  apostolic  legate,  Gaspar  Contarini, 
to  Ratisboime.J     Whithersoever   he  travelled,  he 

*  Ibid. 

f  Melancthon,  "  leri  Grammatico,  oggi  Teologo,  yester- 
day a  grammarian,  to-day  a  theologian,"  writes  Bartoli,  was 
present  at  the  Diet  of  Worms,  with  Faber ;  he  had  ten  years 
previously  drawn  up  the  famous  Confession  of  Augsburg 
and  he  nov  held  a  high  rank  among  the  Lutherans.  But, 
lespite  his  popular  character,  and  exaggerated  meekness, 
the  Catholic  faith  was  preserved  in  Germany  by  the  exer- 
tions of  the  Sons  of  Ignatius. 

X  Lib.  iii.  n.  26.  "  Quocunque  autem  vestigia  posuit," 
writes  the  historian,  "  eundem  se  praebuit  Fabrum,  navum 
videlicet  hominem  et  operarium." 


PETER  FABER.  83 

proved  himself  a  laborious  and  indefatigable  man, 
assisting  the  curates  in  their  parochial  duties,  and 
preaching  the  word  of  God.  At  Ratisbonne,  he  was 
honored  by  the  Duke's  son,  in  whose  dominions  that 
capital  was  situated,  and  by  him  chosen  as  his  Con- 
fessor. At  that  Court,  which  was  composed  of  Ger- 
mans, Italians,  and  Spaniards,  he  was  venerated 
as  a  common  father.  He  extended  his  missionary 
solicitude  throughout  the  country,  imparted  spirit- 
ual aid  and  consolation  to  the  living  and  the  dying, 
and  left  such  deep  and  lasting  impressions  on  his 
converts,  that  none  of  them  was  ever  known  to 
relapse  into  the  habits  of  vice,  or  the  wiles  of 
heresy.* 

From  Ratisbonne,  Faber  was  ordered  to  proceed 
to  Spain.  Before  his  departure,  he  made  his  solemn 
profession  in  the  Church  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, — 
before  the  grand  altar  of  "  the  ancient  chapel," — 
on  the  feast  of  the  Visitation.  The  formulary  of 
vows,  signed  by  his  own  hand,  he  sent  to  Igna- 
tius ; ")"  after  which,  he   departed  from    Germany. 

*  This  is  related,  and  justly,  as  a  remarkable  fact,  by  Or- 
landinus,  lib.  iii.  n.  26.  Among  his  converts  were  two 
Moors.  From  Germany  he  addressed  a  letter  of  admonition 
to  his  brethren  at  Paris,  which  breathes  the  most  fervent 
piety,  and  is  stored  with  heavenly  wisdom.    Ibid.  n.  27. 

f  Ibid.  n.  29. 


84  PETEK   FABER. 

Entertaining  a  peculiar  devotion  to  the  angels,  he 
committed  himself,  on  his  journey,  to  their  guardian 
care,  and  on  entering  any  town,  he  was  accustomed 
to  recommend  its  inhabitants  to  the  particular  pro- 
tection of  their  angels,  and  their  patron  saints. 
Everywhere  did  he  preach  and  exhort :  in  the 
churches,  in  the  streets,  on  the  highways,  in  pub- 
lic and  in  private  :  complying,  thus,  with  the  ad 
monition  of  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  who  advised 
the  ministers  of  the  word  of  God  to  season  every 
opportunity  with  the  salt  of  eternal  life.*  He  dis- 
sembled nothing  ;  but,  on  all  occasions,  discoursed 
of  virtue,  of  truth,  of  God  ;  not,  indeed,  producing 
disgust  by  excessive  rigor,  but  rendering  palata- 
ble, by  the  sweetness  of  his  manner,  duties  the 
most  severe,  and  practices  the  most  repugnant 

In  passing  through  France,  he  was  arrested,  with 
his  companions,  and  confined  in  prison.  But,  even 
in  chains,  his  spirit  and  zeal  were  not  to  be  mana- 
cled. With  such  unction  and  power  he  spoke  of 
heavenly  things  to  the  commander  and  guard  of  the 
castle,  that  they  were  excited  to  repentance,  and 
humbly  confessed  their  sins.  Contrary  to  the  pub- 
lic expectation,  he  was  not  only  humanely  treated, 
but  honorably  set   at  liberty  :  f    whence,  having 

*  Horn.  17,  in  Luc.  10.  f  Lib.  iii.  n.  32. 


PETER  FABEE.  85 

resumed  his  journey,  he  arrived  safely  at  Madrid. 
From  this  capital,  the  rays  of  Faber's  zeal  diffused 
themselves  far  and  wide  through  Spain.  He  con- 
ciliated and  attached  to  his  person  all  orders  and 
classes.  But  these  efforts  were  only,  as  it  were, 
in  passing  through  a  country,  which  obedience  soon 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  quit,  to  return  to 
Germany,  where  a  wider  field  extended  itself  for 
his  labors.  His  excessive  disinterestedness  is  ap- 
parent from  the  circumstance  of  his  having  made  a 
vow  of  peculiar  poverty — never  to  accept  of  any 
remuneration  for  preaching,  celebrating  Mass,  or 
any  other  function.  Having  thus  perfectly  detach- 
ed himself  from  all  earthly  objects,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at,  if  he  devoted  his  heart  to  celestial 
and  divine  things.  His  ordinary  prayer,  with 
which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  sanctifying  his  ac- 
tions, was  this :  "  Heavenly  Father,  give  me  a 
good  spirit."  *  Frequently  did  he  call  upon  the 
adorable  name  of  Jesus,  and  the  holy  name  of 
Mary  :  and  practising  the  memorable  counsel  of 
St.  Basil  to  his  monks,  always  to  remember  the 
presence  of  God,f  he  appeared,  at  all  times,  as 
though  he  was  walking,  and  acting,  and  living,  in 
Him,  and  by  Him,  and  through  Him. 

•  Ibid.  n.  35.  t  Reg.  B*.  0-  21. 

8 


66  PETER  EABER. 

Having  no  companions,  on  his  retirn  to  Ger. 
many,  he  besought  the  Almighty  to  join  with  him 
some  strangers,  at  least,  with  whom  he  might  tran- 
quilly and  happily  pursue  his  journey.  His  prayer 
was  heard.  For,  two  individuals  not  only  became 
his  associates  in  travelling,  but  most  unexpectedly 
united  themselves  with  the  Society.  These  were 
John  Arragonius  and  Alvarez  Alphonsus,  priests, 
and  chaplains  of  Maria  and  Joanna,  the  daughters 
of  the  Emperor  Charles,  who  sacrificed  the  splen- 
dor of  the  court  for  the  humility  of  the  cross. 
Accompanied  by  these  new  brethren,  he  journeyed, 
during  three  months,  through  imminent  dangers 
and  pressing  difficulties.  Safe,  at  length,  and 
sound,  he  arrived  at  Spires,  having  escaped  from 
the  grasp  of  robbers  on  the  confines  of  Spain,  from 
the  gloom  of  a  prison  in  France,  from  the  inso- 
lence of  the  soldiery  in  Swabia,  and  from  the 
insults  of  heretics  in  Germany.*  At  Spires,  the 
-harvest  was  white,  and  boundless.  By  his  daily 
exhortations  and  indefatigable  perseverance,  he 
brought  back  thousands  to  the  ways  of  righteous- 
ness, and  reformed,  in  a  great  measure,  the  rather 
lax  morals  of  some  of  the  clergy.f  The  rigid 
measures  of  the  bishop  with  regard  to  the  latter, 

*  Lib.  iii.  n.  65.  t  Ibid.  61,  67 


PETER  FABEB.  87 

instead  of  producing  the  desired  effect,  only  in 
creased  the  evil.  But  the  mild,  candid,  and  yet 
firm  and  uncompromising  conduct  of  Faber  brought 
them  to  a  sense  of  duty.  By  his  prudence  and 
singular  probity  he  won  the  esteem  of  all,  even 
the  Cardinal,  who  afterwards  showed  his  benevo- 
lence and  affection  for  the  Society.  As  a  mark  of 
his  kindness  to  Faber,  he  offered  him  a  silver 
vase  of  great  value,  which,  however,  the  humble 
Jesuit,  ever  mindful  of  his  vow  of  poverty, 
begged  respectfully  to  decline  receiving.  On  the 
following  day,  the  Cardinal,  in  shaking  hands 
with  him,  threw  into  the  case  of  his  breviary, 
which  was  suspended  from  his  girdle,  a  hun- 
dred golden  florins.  Finding  himself  compelled, 
out  of  respect  for  the  illustrious  donor,  to  re- 
ceive the  gift,  he  sent  part  of  it  to  his  brethren 
at  Paris,  and  the  rest  he  distributed  among  the 
poor.* 

Returning  to  Spires,  he  resumed  his  catecheti- 
cal instructions  in  that  city  with  great  usefulness. 
On  one  occasion,  when  attacked  by  a  minister  on 
the  impropriety,  as  he  termed  it,  of  venerating 
sacred  images,  and  invoking  the  sain+«»,  Faber 
replied  with  this  home-thrust  argument ;  "  If  you 

*  Ibid.  n.  71 


88  PETER   FABER. 

deny  that  we  should  honor  God  only  in  his  own 
person,  and  not  in  his  saints,  why  should  we  be 
bound  to  venerate  the  king,  not  in  his  person  only, 
but  in  that  of  his  representative  ?" — a  plain,  but 
convincing-  retort  :  a  powerful  argumentum  aa 
hominem,  which  silenced  the  Lutheran  caviller  on 
the  spot.* 

From  Spires,  Faber  was  called  to  Mentz,  at  the 
solicitation  of  the  archbishop,  who,  knowing  his 
prudence  and  erudition,  intended  him  to  assist,  with 
some   other   illustrious    and   learned   men,    at   the 


*  This  reply  of  Faber  contains  in  brief  the  whole  of  the 
doctrine  touching  the  nature  of  the  veneration  of  images 
and  the  invocation  of  saints.  All  the  respect  is  merely  rela- 
tive— all  tending  to  the  supreme  worship  of  God,  by  whom 
the  saints  are  rewarded,  and  through  whom  alone  their  in- 
tercession can  avail  the  faithful  on  earth. 

f  Before  the  General  Council  of  Trent,  several  provincial 
synods  had  been  held  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the 
Catholic  faith,  and  reforming  morals.  In  Germany,  the 
most  remarkable  were  those  of  Cologne,  Mentz,  and  Treves. 
The  heretics,  not  satisfied  with  their  decrees,  appealed  to  an 
oecumenical  council.  But  no  sooner  was  that  convoked, 
than  they  protested  against  its  authority,  on  the  ground  that 
it  should  be  celebrated,  not  at  Trent,  but  in  Germany,  as  it 
was  against  the  Protestants  of  that  country  it  was  intended. 
But  this  was  a  frivolous  objection — a  mere  subterfuge.  For, 
they  must  have  known,  that  although  the  Arian  heresj 


PETER  FABER.  89 

Council  of  Trent.f     But  this  mission  the  H0I3  Ser 
had  reserved  as  a  pledge  of  its  own  esteem  for  hit 

sprang  up  at  Alexandria,  in  Egypt,  the  council  that  con 
demned  it  was  held  at  Nice,  in  Bithynia  ;  the  same  may  be 
said,  also,  of  the  Nestorian  heresy,  which  was  broached  a* 
Constantinople,  but  anathematized  in  the  Council  of  Eph- 
esus. 

Moreover,  the  Lutherans  themselves,  in  the  Diet  of  Spires, 
in  1542,  had  assented  to  the  proposition  of  convening  the 
council  at  Trent,  which  is  conterminous  with  Germany,  con- 
venient for  the  Germans,  and  affording  no  suspicions  to  other 
nations. 

Another  objection  was,  that  the  council  was  convoked 
by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  who,  they  argued,  could  not  pre- 
side on  this  occasion,  as  no  one  should  be  a  judge  in  his  own 
cause.  This,  too,  was  a  mere  sophism.  For,  it  is  well  au- 
thenticated, that  no  oecumenical  council  had  ever  been  cele- 
brated, either  in  the  East  or  West,  at  which  the  visible  head 
of  the  Church,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  did  not  preside,  if  not 
in  person,  at  least  through  his  legates.  In  contemplating 
the  conduct  of  the  Reformers,  I  am  forcibly  reminded  of  the 
following  memorable  language  of  St.  Vincent  Lerins,  in 
speaking  of  Nestorius :  "  Invecti  sumus  in  Nestorii  seclera- 
tam  praesumptionem,  quod  sacram  scripturam  se  primum  ac 
solum  intelligere,  et  omnes  eos  ignorasse  jactaret,  quicunque 
ante  se  magisterii  munere  praediti,  divina  eloquia  tractavis 
sent :  totam  postremo  etiam  nunc  errare,  et  semper  errasse 
ecclesiam,  quae  (ut  ipsi  videbatur)  ignoros,  erroneosque  doc- 
tores  et  secuta  est,  st  sequeretur." 

"  We  have  inveighed  against  the  audacious  presumption 

8* 


90  PETER   FABER. 

great  qualities,  as  we  shall  hereafter  relate.*  In 
the  mean  time,  the  archbishop  kept  him  near  his 
own  person  as  an  adviser  and  friend.  What  was 
the  state  of  his  mind,  and  with  what  heavenly  gifts 
he  was  replenished,  a  letter  written  at  this  epoch  to 
Laynez  clearly  testifies.  "  I  cannot,  brother  James, 
express,"  these  are  his  terms,  "  the  favors  which 
God  has  bestowed  on  me,  since  we  parted  at  Pla- 
cenza  :  he  has  healed  all  my  infirmities,  and  effaced 
my  iniquities.  To  Him  be  glory,  praise,  honor,  and 
benediction,  from  every  creature.  With  all  my 
heart  do  I  say,  Amen  !  and  I  entreat  you  also  to 
bless  and  praise  him  for  me,  your  brother,  and  for 
all  the  Society ."f 

Here,  as  usual,  he  stood  forth  the  intrepid  and 
powerful  vindicator  of  the  faith,  and  excited  univer- 
sal admiration,  and  produced  incredible  good,  by 


of  Nestorius,  who  boasted  that  he  was  the  first  and  only  in- 
dividual that  ever  understood  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and 
that  all  others  were  ignorant  of  them,  who,  before  him,  en- 
dowed with  the  office  of  teaching,  had  explained  the  divine 
revelations  ;  that  the  whole  Church,  in  fine,  was  in  error, 
and  always  had  been  in  error ;  because  (as  he  pretended) 
she  was  following,  and  had  followed,  ignorant  and  erring 
teachers."     Gommonitor.  adv.  Hare*. 

*  Orland.  lib.  iii.  n.  73. 

f  See  the  whole  epistle,  apud  Orland.  lib.  iii.  n.  74. 


PETER  FABER.  9i 

his  frequent  discourses,  especially  by  an  explana- 
tion of  the  Psalms,  in  a  series  of  lectures.  By  his 
amiable  virtues,  he  attached  all  orders  of  citizens 
to  him,  and  reformed  abuses,  especially  among  the 
clergy.  All  seemed  honored  by  going  through  the 
spiritual  exercises  under  such  a  man,  or  by  having 
him  as  their  confessor.  His  success  was  so  far  be- 
yond his  own  most  sanguine  anticipations,  that  he 
could  not  but  give  vent  to  his  astonishment  in  a 
letter  to  Ignatius.* 

The  Cardinal,  who,  from  his  first  acquaintance 
with  Faber,  esteemed  him  as  an  extraordinary  and 
holy  man,  witnessing  the  immense  fruit  which  his 
labors  produced  in  Germany,  conceived  a  still  more 
vehement  admiration  for  him,  and  desired  to  know 
more  concerning  the  Society  to  which  he  belonged. 
No  one  could  be  better  fitted  to  discharge  the  task 
assigned  him  than  Faber :  insomuch,  that  having 
finished  it,  the  Cardinal  declared  that  he  believed 
the  Society  to  have  been  divinely  instituted,  to 
counteract  the  calamities  of  the  times.f 

Whilst  thus  engaged  in  reviving  discipline  and 
virtue  among  the  clergy  and  laity,  he  was  suddenly 

♦Ibid.  lib.  iv.  n.32. 

f  Ibid.  "  Ut  Societatem  sibi  videri  dicaret  prop&  di  viaitua 
ad  ea  tempora  tarn  difficilia,  tamque  aspera  reservatam." 


92  PETER  FABER. 

called  to  Cologne,  where  the  Church  was  in  danger 
of  being  infected  with  the  Lutheran  heresies.*  On 
his  arrival  in  that  city,  he  found  the  Archbishop, 
Hermannus,  tainted  with  them,  and  no  one  resolute 
enough  to  oppose  so  powerful  a  prelate.  He  did 
not  shrink  from  the  task  :  but,  after  recommending 
the  step  to  God,  went  to  the  palace,  gently  warned 
the  Archbishop  of  his  error,  and,  by  his  prudence 
and  moderation,  effected  a  manifest  change.  Tht 
Pope's  legate,  John  Poggius,  a  very  learned  and 
experienced  man,  who  was  afterwards  raised  to  the 
cardinalate,  being  informed  of  the  condition  of  that 
Church,  would  not  suffer  Faber  to  be  removed  from 
it.  Whilst  intent  upon  the  study  how  to  rescue 
that  ancient  portion  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  from 
the  calamity  that  menaced  it ;  whilst  he  labored, 
with  assiduous  care,  to  raise  Religion  from  her  fallen 
state,  and  preserve  unimpaired  the  glory  of  the 
archiepiscopal  chair,  Heaven  gave  him  a  powerful 
auxiliary  in  the  person  of  the  venerable  Peter  Ca- 
nisius,  who  burned  with  a  desire  to  propagate  the 
true  faith,  and  to  defend  it  against  its  enemies.")" 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  33.  The  historian  does  not  conceal  the  vices 
of  many  of  the  clergy  of  Germany,  at  this  period ;  which, 
no  doubt,  facilitated  the  spread  of  errors. 

f  Lib.  iv.  n.  54.  With  what  profound  arguments  he  as- 
serted the  cause  of  faith,  his  Catechism  will  convince  an* 


PETER  FABER.  93 

He  was  the  first  German  who  joined  the  Society. 
Attracted  by  the  reputation  of  Faber,  he  sought 
after  him — "  and  found  that  man,  or  rather  angel," 
in  his  own  language  ;  "  nor  have  I  ever  seen  or 
heard  a  more  learned  or  profound  theologian,  or  a 
man  of  such  eminent  and  shining  virtue."* 

Meanwhile  Faber  received  a  letter  from  Igna- 
tius, directing  him  to  quit  Cologne,  and  proceed 
with  Alphonsus  and  Arragonius  into  Portugal,  as 
a  companion  to  the  daughter  of  the  king.  This 
was  done  at  the  request  of  the  monarch  himself. f 
Without  delay  he  set  out  for  Louvain,  thence  to 
embark  for  Portugal.  Hardly  had  he  arrived  at 
that  city,  before  he  was  attacked  with  the  tertian 
fever,  by  which  he  was  prostrated  upon  his  bed. 
Having  lingered  for  a  long  time,  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff,  deeming  it  proper  to  defer,  on  that  account, 
his  mission  to  Portugal,  commanded  him,  on  his 
recovery,  to  go  back  to  Cologne.  He  there  met 
Alphonsus  :  but  Canisius,  whose  father  had  died, 
had  gone  to  his  native  country,  for  the  purpose  of 
arranging  his  domestic  affairs.     Faber  wrote  him 

reader.  The  canonization  of  this  servant  of  God  is  now  in 
process. 

*Id.  ibid. — "Si  tamen  Vir  est,  et  non  potius  Angela* 
Domini." 

f  Lib.  iv.  n.  35. 


94  PETER   FABER. 

a  letter  of  condolence,  entreating*  him,  at  the  same 
time,  to  return  as  soon  as  possible.* 

Affairs  of  vast  magnitude  now  occupied  the  mind 
of  Faber  ;  a  task  of  infinite  importance  was  placed 
in  his  hands  :  no  other  than  that  of  supporting 
again  the  tottering  faith  of  Hermannus,  who,  during 
his  absence,  wavered  from  the  standard  of  truth, 
and  inclined  to  the  errors  of  the  times.  The  un- 
faithful prelate  had  invited  to  Cologne,  Bucer,  Me- 
lancthon,  and  other  renowned  doctors  of  the  Re- 
formation, from  whom  he  derived  the  fatal  poison 
of  heresy,  and  permitted  it  to  be  spread,  far  and 
wide,  through  his  diocese/)*  Faber  saw,  with  hor- 
ror, the  lamentable  evil,  and  strained  every  nerve 
to  save  at  least  the  people  among  whom  the  con- 
tagion had  not  yet  been  caught :  he  held  daily 
conferences,  to  which  the  learned  doctors,  acade- 
micians, and  others — ecclesiastics  as  well  as  laics 

*Ibid.  n.  87. 

f  This  unfortunate  prelate,  who,  in  the  early  progress  of 
the  Reformation,  had  convened  a  synod  at  Cologne,  in 
which  many  excellent  and  wholesome  decrees  were  passed, 
was,  at  length,  led  astray,  by  Bucer  and  Melancthon,  and 
joined  their  ranks,  in  which  he  continued  till  his  death.  Had 
not  Faber  been  on  the  spot  to  stay  the  spreading  evil,  Co- 
logne,  no  doubt,  would  have  fallen,  beyond  the  hope  of  res- 
cue, into  the  power  :>f  those  bold  heresiarchs. 


PETER   FABER.  £5 

— flocked  incessantly.  Such  was  their  efficacy, 
that,  at  the  request  of  thousands  of  the  principal 
personages  of  that  city,  the  Emperor  banished 
Melancthon  and  Bucer,  who,  under  the  specious 
appellation  of  Reformers,  were  infecting  the  coun 
try  with  the  spirit  of  schism  and  disorder.  Before 
their  departure,  however,  Faber,  the  more  solemn- 
ly to  refute  their  novelties,  challenged  them  both 
to  a  public  disputation,  in  which,  with  immense 
erudition  and  resistless  arguments,  he  exposed  tne 
fallacy  of  their  pretensions,  and  annihilated  the 
daring  sophistry  of  their  system.*  His  adversa- 
ries, as  may  easily  be  ,  conceived,  were  far  fron> 
yielding  :  they  clung,  with  desperate  obstinacy,  to 
their  darling  errors,  which  emancipated  the  human 
mind  from  all  ecclesiastical  authority,  and,  unde* 
the  glorious  name  of  Liberty,  gave  free  scope  to 
boundless  license.  But  if  their  hardihood  was  not 
overcome,  their  audacity  was  repressed.  They 
were  condemned  to  be  silent  while  Faber  was  at 
Cologne  ;  and  justly  has  it  been  conceded  by  con- 
temporary writers,  that,  had  it  not  been  preserved 
by  his  exertions,  religion  would  have  perished  in 
that  city.f 

•Lib.  iv.  n.  90. 

f  Ibid.    "Ut  merito  qui  recte  sentirent  assererent,  niei 


96  PETER  FABER. 

In  a  letter  addressed,  at  this  juncture,  to  Laynez, 
Faber  has  left  upon  record  certain  sentiments 
touching  the  manner  of  treating  with  Lutherans, 
which  deserve  the  attention  of  the  reader  :  "  It  be- 
comes all,"  he  writes,  "  who  desire  to  do  good 
among  them,  to  evince  the  greatest  charity  towards 
them  ;  to  love  tuern  truly  ;  to  disabuse  their  minds 
of  every  thing  that  might  tend  to  lessen  us  in  their 
estimation.  We  should  seek  to  conciliate  their 
good-will,  and  gain  their  confidence.  This  will  be 
effected  by  gentle  intercourse  with  them,  and  con- 
versing only  of  those  points  concerning  which  we 

all  agree  ;  carefully  shunning  any  altercation 

We  should,  in  the  next  place,  teach  them  first  what 
they  should  practise,  and  afterwards  what  they 
should  believe  :  acting,  in  this  particular,  differ- 
ently from  the  custom  of  the  primitive  Church,  at  a 
time  when  the  minds  of  men  were  to  be  imbued 
with  faith,  which  is  'from  hearing,'  and  then  to  be 
gradually  led  to  the  consentaneous  practice  of  good 
works.  We  should,  therefore,  strive  to  recall 
them  from  their  evil  ways  before  we  speak  to 
them  of  their  evil  doctrine.  If  Luther  himself 
could  be  persuaded  to  lead  a  virtuous   and  pious 

Fabri  vigiliae  intervenissent,  perituram  funditus  fuisse  Colo- 
niam." 


PETER   FABER.  97 

life,  it  would  be  no  difficult  matter  to  bring  him 
back  to  the  bosom  of  the  true  Church."* 

These  were  the  principles  which  he  expressed 
aud  followed  in  laboring  for  the  conversion  and 
salvation  of  the  Lutherans  at  Cologne  ;  whence, 
having  confided  to  Canisius  the  business  of  erect- 
ing a  college  in  that  city,  by  order  of  Ignatius,  he 
departed  for  Louvain  on  his  way  to  Portugal, 
and  arrived  safely  at  Lisbon,  on  the  feast  of  Saint 
Bartholomew.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Evora, 
where  he  fell  sick  ;  and,  on  recovering,  proceeded 
to  Coimbra,  to  overlook  the  laying  of  the  founda- 
tions of  a  college  in  that  town.")"  This  being  done, 
his  next  destination  was  Castile  :  and  at  Salaman- 
ca, where  he  passed  some  time,  he  fanned  the  flame 
of  piety  which  had  already  been  enkindled  by  Arao- 
zius,  and  let  slip  no  opportunity  of  aiding  in  the 
cause  of  religion.  The  Society  now  began  to  be 
favorably  known,  and  colleges,  at  the  suggestion 
of  the  noblest  men,  were  founded.^  There  flour- 
ished, at  this  era,  at  Salamanca,  two  illustrious 
characters,  Alphonsus  de  Castro,  of  the  order  of  St. 
'Francis,  and  of  that  of  St.  Dominic,  Francis  Victo- 


*  See  the  whole  document,  ubi  supr.  n.  91,  92,  93,  94,  95. 
f  Lib.  v.  n.  43. 
X  Ibid.  n.  59. 

9 


08  PETER    FABER. 

ria,  whose  names  were  renowned  in  the  schools, 
and  whose  piety  shone  brightly  in  the  Church.  By 
them  Faber  was  received  with  every  demonstration 
of  benevolence,  and  the  Society  was  so  highly  ex- 
tolled before  the  public,  that  an  effort  was  made  to 
retain  him  in  that  famous  capital  :  but,  having 
merely  sowed  the  seed  of  future  good,  he  pursued 
his  journey  to  Valladolid,  then  the  seat  of  the  em- 
pire.* He  was  graciously  received  by  Philip  and 
his  queen,  Mary,  through  whose  kindness  a  vast 
field  was  opened  to  his  zeal  in  Spain.  Wherefore, 
he  began  immediately,  both  in  the  churches  and 
public  places,  to  harangue  the  people,  to  instruct 
the  young  and  ignorant.  He  visited  the  hospitals, 
in  which  he  often  spent  entire  nights,  and  pene- 
trated into  the  cells  of  the  prisons.  By  this  devoted- 
ness  and  generosity,  he  converted  thousands,  and 
shed  the  light  of  virtue  and  faith  into  the  deep  gloom 
of  vice  and  error.  The  fame  of  these  apostolic  deeds 
soon  spread  throughout  all  Spain  ;  and  Faber  was 
the  topic  of  universal  conversation.  By  Charles, 
he  was  invited  to  Madrid  ;  whence  he  proceeded 
to  Toledo,  where,  three  years  before,  he  had  won 
the  admiration  of  the  people  by  his  labors  and  vir- 
tues ;  and  after  a  brief  visit,  retraced  his  steps  to 

*  Ibid.  n.  60. 


PETER  FABER.  99 

Valladolid.  To  the  court  and  nobility  he  was  pecu- 
liarly dear,  and  their  influence  extending  itself  to 
the  lower  classes,  he  became  the  idol  of  all  ;  inso- 
much that  he  seemed  to  experience  some  emotions 
of  fear  at  the  unprecedented  prosperity  that  attend- 
ed him.*  But  no  ;  this  was  the  wise  disposition  of 
Providence,  who,  having  filled  the  chalice,  which 
Ignatius  was  destined  to  drink  at  first,  with  the 
bitterness  of  adversity  and  suffering,  changed  it 
now,  for  the  welfare  and  glory  of  the  Society,  into 
sweetness  and  joy.  And  this  consideration,  which 
Faber  founded  on  the  writings  of  Blessed  Mark  the 
anchorite,  dispersed  the  cloud  of  his  misgiving.")" 

The  crown  of  all  his  merits  was  to  have  been 
placed  upon  his  brows  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff, 
who  had  chosen  him  to  assist  as  one  of  his  The- 
ologians at  the  Council  of  Trent.J  But  Divine 
Providence  had  other  views  over  his  good  and 
faithful  servant.  Fatigued  with  his  labors,  and  ex- 
hausted by  acts  of  mortification,  which  he  practised 
in  the  midst  of  the  luxury  and  pageantry  of  the 
Court,  he  was  seized  with  a  burning  fever  at  Bar- 
celona, where  he  was  reposing  a  few  days,  on  his 

*  Ibid.  n.  78. 

f  B.    Marc.  Anach.     Tractai.  de  pom.     Quoted  by  Or- 
landinus,  ubi  supr. 
X  Lib  vi.  n.  19. 


100  PETER   FABER. 

way  to  Rome.  It  was  midsummer,  and  tne  heal 
was  excessive.  Ignatius  did  not,  under  those  cir- 
cumstances, advise  his  continuing  on  his  journey  ; 
but  the  other  Fathers  thinking  differently,  it  be- 
came him  to  make  the  attempt.  Actuated  by  the 
spirit  of  perfect  obedience,  he  summoned  all  his 
energies,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  capital  of 
the  Christian  world.  A  few  days  elapsed  after  his 
arrival,  at  that  unwholesome  season,  before  he  was 
attacked  again,  and  laid  prostrate  upon  his  bed, 
from  which  he  never  rose.  He  died :  and  when  he 
died,  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  conspicuous  pil- 
lars of  the  Society  fell  to  the  earth,  the  loss  of 
which  was  mourned  and  deplored  by  his  brethren, 
and  by  all  the  faithful.  Ignatius  wept  over  the 
grave  of  his  first  companion  and  beloved  friend  ; 
while  the  whole  Church  was  deprived  of  an  Apostle 
whose  heart  yearned  for  the  propagation  of  the 
faith,  the  conversion  of  heretics  and  sinners,  the 
greater  glory  of  God  ;  and  whose  life  was  a  con- 
tinual exemplar  of  the  purity,  piety,  zeal,  and  per- 
fection of  the  gospel.  His  conversation  was  al- 
ways in  heaven.  Amid  all  the  contingencies  of 
life,  his  confidence  in  God  was  unwavering,  and  his 
gratitude  unbounded.  His  virtues  were  heroic  : 
renowned  for  all,  he  was  particularly  remarkable 
for  prompt   obedience    unrestricted   poverty,    and 


PETER  FABER.  101 

spiritual  recollection.*  His  devotion  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  mother  of  God,  was  most  tender  ;  to  her, 
after  the  example  of  the  primitive  fathers  of  the 
Church,  he  was  accustomed  to  recommend  his 
wants  and  those  of  the  Society  and  his  fellow- 
mortals  ;  and  guided  by  the  same  venerable  au- 
thority, he  paid  due  honor  to  the  angels  and  saints, 
offered  his  prayers  to  them,  as  the  especial  friends 
of  the  Most  High,  who,  in  the  infinite  enjoyment  of 
the  beatific  vision,  do  not  fail  to  experience  a  never- 
ceasing  and  universal  interest  in  the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  the  poor  pilgrims  of  earth.  The  Lu- 
therans, among  their  other  numberless  errors,  at- 
tacked, as  unmeet,  nay,  even  as  idolatrous,  thia 
practice,  which  loses  itself  in  immemorial  ages. 
The  whole  progeny  of  the  Protestant  Reformation, 
in  succeeding  times,  have  followed  their  example — 
and  not  only  continue  to  reject  in  spirit  and  ia 
truth  "the  communion  of  saints,"  but  distort  the 
ancient  doctrine,  and  calumniate  the  millions  of 
Catholics  who  cling  to  it,  not,  as  it  is  said,  with 

*  Vid.  lib.  iii.  n.  71.  Ibid.  n.  33.  34.  lib.  v.  48.  lib.  vi.  n. 
86.  Faber's  death  occurred  in  1546.  The  historian  ex 
claims :  "  Cecidit  praecipuum  Societatis  columen,  et  cunctoa 
Socios  mceror  ingens  invasit.  Ipse  vero  B.  Pater  quo  putas 
animo  carissimi  Sodalis  occasum  tulit  ?"  See  also  Tanner, 
p.  38. 

9* 


102  PETER   FABER. 

morbid  superstition,  but  with  vigorous,  enlightened, 
and  primeval  devotion. 

The  grave  where  Faber's  mortal  relics  reposed 
was  a  hallowed  and  venerated  spot,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  all  who  knew  how  to  appreciate  the  sanc- 
tity of  that  spirit  which  so  recently  animated  and 
consecrated  them.  Among  others,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  members  of  the  early  Society, 
Father  Oviedus,  did  not  hesitate  to  burn  over  it 
a  blessed  taper,  beseeching  "  the  Saint"  to  obtain 
for  him,  by  his  intercession,  spiritual  light  from  the 
11  Father  of  Lights."  This  private  veneration, 
evinced  by  such  a  man,  will  speak  more  eloquently 
than  my  pen  can  describe,  the  odor  of  sanctity 
which  the  name  of  Faber  diffused  through  the 
Society  and  the  Church.* 


*  This  practice  Oviedus  continued  yearly,  with  the  appro- 
bation of  Ignatius.  Orlandinus  relates  tliis  fact  with  his 
wonted  precision  and  elegance  of  style.  "  Oviedus  quideiu 
singulis  deinceps  annis  candidum  in  Urbem  cereum  misit, 
rogans  B.  Patrem  ut  ardentem  tumulo  Fabri  juberet  imponi, 
quo  sibi  ille  spirituale  lumen  a  Patre  luminum  impetraret," 
etc.  Lib.  vi.  n.  87.  This  he  did  as  an  act  of  private  devo- 
tion, cherishing  the  hope  that,  at  some  future  time,  his  name 
would  find  a  place  among  the  servants  of  God  who  are  pub- 
licly venerated  by  the  Church.  His  death  occurred  on  the 
first  of  August,  A.  D.  1546. 


ST.  FRANCIS  XAVIEB. 


*  **tttcki  ( 


?sli  *s* 


CHAPTER  III. 

ST.     FRANCIS     XAVIER.* 

Fkancis  Xavikr. — Converted  by  Ignatius.  Rejects  a  oaiionicato.  la 
sent  to  the  Indies,  as  Apostolic  Legate.  His  labors  at  Mozambique, 
Melinda,  and  Scotora;  on  the  Fishery-coast;  at  Goa;  at  Cape  Comorin  ; 
at  Travancor;  in  the  Island  of  Manaria;  in  Ceylon.  Visits  the  tomb 
of  St  Thcmas  at  Meliapor.  Goes  to  Malacca ;  Amboina;  Maluco ;  to  the 
Isle  of  Moro;  meditates  a  mission  to  Japan.  Returns  to  India;  to  Goa. 
Departs  lor  Japan.  Arrives  at  Gangoxima.  Traverses  Japan.  First 
Japanese  Christians.  Goes  to  Firando,  and  to  Meaco,  and  Amangouchl. 
Disputes  with  the  Bonzees.  Conference  with  the  King  of  Bungo.  Re- 
turns to  the  Indies.  Departs  for  China.  Arrives  at  the  Island  of  San- 
chin.    Dies  in  the  midst  of  his  glory. 

From  the  midst  of  the  most  flattering  worldly 
hopes  and  affections,  the  second  companion  of  Ig- 
natius was  drawn  into  the  bosom  of  the  Society  by 
the  persuasive  influence  of  that  wonderful  man. 
He   saw  in  Xavier  a  magnanimous   disposition,  a 

*  "It  was  in  the  year  1506,  that  Francis  Xavier,  the 
youngest  child  of  a  numerous  family,  was  born  in  the  castle 
of  his  ancestors  in  the  Pyrenees.  Robust  and  active,  of  a 
gay  humor  and  ardent  spirit,  the  young  mountaiueer 
listened  with  a  throbbing  heart  to  the  legend  of  bis  house, 


106  ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

soul  expanding'  with  the  natural  energies  jf  great- 
ness and  ambition  ;  and  could  he  only  succeed  in 
directing  them  to  the  cause  of  religion  and  virtue, 
no  imagination  could  conceive  how  boundless  would 
be  their  extent,  how  tireless  their  operation.  To 
this  end,  Ignatius  suggested  to  Xavier's  mind  pro- 
found considerations  on  the  inconstancy  of  all 
human  things,  the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  the 
briefness  of  time.  The  seed  took  root — deep  root, 
in  his  susceptible  and  noble  heart.  God's  grace 
accompanied  the  hand  that  planted  it ;  and,  after 
long  and  severe  struggles  within  himself — strug- 
gles of  passion  against  virtue,  pride  against  humil- 
ity, human  reason  against  faith — a  perfect  and 
glorious  victory  was  achieved.  Xavier  resolved  to 
dedicate  himself  to  the  altar,  and  to  associate  him- 
self with  the  holy  man  to  whom  he  was  indebted, 

and  to  the  inward  voice  which  spoke  of  her  days  to  come, 
when  his  illustrious  lineage  should  derive  new  splendor 
from  his  own  achievements."     Stephens,  ubi  supr. 

He  owed  his  conversion  especially  to  that  solemn  admoni- 
tion of  our  Saviour,  repeated  by  Ignatius  in  the  midst  of  the 
frivolities  in  which  he  delighted,  or  in  the  studies  which  he 
was  pursuing.  Whatever  was  the  theme  of  conversation 
between  Ignatius  and  him,  it  was  always  closed  by  tho 
same  awful  inquiry :  "  What  doth  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  gain 
the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?" 


ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER.  107 

under  God,  for  his  rescue  from  the  snares  and  vices 
of  the  world.*  This  memorable  event  occurred  in 
Paris,  in  the  year  1535. 

Hardly  had  he  entered  upon  his  theological  stud- 
ies before  he  was  nominated  canon  in  the  Cathe- 
dral of  Pampeluna,  his  native  city :  the  dignity, 
however,  he  refused  to  accept,  preferring  the 
humility  of  that  order  which  closed  the  door  of 
honors  against  its  members.")"  After  going  through 
all  the  preliminary  stages  of  the  Spiritual  Exercises 
and  necessary  retirement,  and  in  all  giving  proofs 
of  perfection  and  sanctity,  which  might  render  him 
worthy  to  undertake  any  project  no  matter  how 
arduous,  how  uninviting,  the  vast  regions  of  the 
East  were  spread  before  his  mind,  and  he  was  ad- 
monished by  Providence  to  prepare  himself  for  a 
mission  which  would  open  the  gates  of  the  Church 
and  of  Heaven  to  a  far-off  world  that  then  lay 
buried  in  the  darkness  of  Idolatry.  The  Indies 
had  been  penetrated  by  the  spirit  of  adventure  ; 
they  were  now  to  be  explored  by  the  spirit  of  re- 
ligion. When  this  great  project  was  proposed  to 
Xavier  by  Ignatius,  he  clasped  it  to  his  heart  with 
incredible  alacrity  and  ineffable  delight,  and  in- 
continently set  out  to  Rome  with  the  ambassador 

*  Ibid.  n.  105.  f  Orland.  lib.  i  n.  85. 


108  ST.    FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

of  the  king  of  Portugal.*  At  the  request  of  that 
monarch,  he  was  invested  with  the  dignity  of 
Apostolic  Legate,  in  order  that  he  might  exercise 
a  greater  authority  and  influence  over  those  dis- 
tant missions.f  Obedience  alone  induced  the  hum- 
ble man  to  accept  the  dignity.  But  he  refused  all 
presents,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  books  ;  nor 
would  he  consent  to  have  the  services  of  an  at- 
tendant, saying,  as  long  as  he  had  the  use  of  his 
hands  and  feet,  he  did  not  require  any  waiting 
upon.  In  taking  a  last  embrace,  on  board  the 
ship,  of  Simon  Bobadilla,  Xavier  thus  addressed 
him :  "Do  you  not  remember,  Father,  when  we 
were  together  in  the  hospital  at  Rome,  how  you 
were,  one  night,  aroused  from  sleep  by  my  cries 
of  more,  more,  more  f  Since  now  the  dream  is 
about  being  realized,  I  will  inform  you  that  those 
cries  were  forced  from  me  by  the  prospect  of  in- 
numerable sufferings  and  dangers  which  Heaven 
seemed  to  tell  me  were  soon  to  be  my  painful  but 
blessed  portion."  \  Eager  to  seize  upon  that 
chalice,  of  which,  his  subsequent  history  tells  how 

*  It  must  not  be  concealed  that  Bobadilla  was  the  first 
person  selected  by  Ignatius  for  the  mission  of  the  Indies, 
but  could  not  undertake  it,  on  account  of  illness.  Thus,  by 
the  wise  interposition  of  Providence,  the  lot  fell  on  Xavier. 

\  Lib.  iii.  n.  43  %  lib.  iii.  n.  43. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  109 

cheerfully  and  deeply  he  was  destined  to  drink,  he 
sailed  for  the  Indies,  in  April,  A.  D.  1540,  accom- 
panied by  Martin  Alphonso,  governor  of  India,  and 
two  brethren,  Paul  Camerte,  a  priest,  and  Francis 
Manilla,  not  yet  in  holy  orders  ;  but  did  not  reach 
Goa  until  thirteen  months  later.  The  cause  of 
this  was  their  detention  for  nearly  six  months  at 
Mozambique,  an  island  inhabited  by  Portuguese 
and  Saracens,  and  subject  to  the  crown  of  Portu- 
gal. The  interval  which  he  spent  there,  was  filled 
up  with  works  of  zeal  and  usefulness,  not  only 
among  the  Christians,  but  likewise  the  infidel  por- 
tion of  the  inhabitants.  Thence  they  sailed  for 
Melinda,  a  Saracenic  town,  in  which,  however, 
many  Portuguese  merchants  resided,  who  came 
out  in  a  body,  bearing  in  their  front  a  marble 
cross,  to  greet  the  arrival  of  the  holy  missionary  ;  * 
and,  after  a  short  detention,  they  continued  to  the 
island  of  Socotora,  lying  on  the  eastern  coast  of 
Africa.  The  heat  in  this  region  is  excessive  ;  the 
soil  uncultivated,  sterile,  and  dried  up,  and  pro- 
duces no  sort  of  fruit ;  so  that  the  inhabitants  have 
no  other  food  than  milk,  meat,  and  herbs.  They 
called  themselves  Christians,  and  traced  back  to 
the  days  of  St.  Thomas,  whom  they  held  in  the 

*  Ibid.  n.  86. 
10 


110  ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

highest  veneration,*  by  whom,  they  affirmed,  their 
ancestors  had  been  baptized  ;  bnt  of  the  nature  of 
baptism  they  were,  nevertheless,  entirely  ignorant. 
Among  them  many  vestiges  of  Christianity  con- 
tinued. Their  temples  were  well  built,  with  crosses 
on  the  altars,  and  lights  perpetually  burning  ;  and 
a  cacique,  like  a  parish  priest,  attached  to  each. 
But  the  caciques  were  utterly  ignorant  of  the  ele- 
ments of  instruction,  and  no  monuments  whatever 
of  learning,  no  books,  no  teacher,  could  be  found 
among  them.  All  was  wrapt  in  profound  darkness, 
and  so  dense  were  the  clouds  of  Saracenic  and 
pagan  superstition,  that  not  a  single  ray  of  Chris- 
tian light  could  be  discerned.f  On  quitting  this 
singular  place,  Xavier  wrote  the  most  touching 
letters  to  the  king  of  Portugal,  commending  to  his 
attention  these  wandering  sheep,  whose  hope  and 
happiness  depended  on  their  emancipation  from  the 
tyranny  under  which  they  were  ground  down  by  the 
Saracens.     His  appeal  was  successful.     The  king 

*  Ibid.  n.  78. 

f  The  description  of  this  island,  and  of  the  manners,  cus- 
toms, and  religion  of  the  people  who  inhabit  it,  as  well  as 
the  tradition  of  their  having  been  visited  by  the  Apostle 
St.  Thomas,  are  all  fraught  wir,h  exciting  interest,  especially 
as  narrated  by  the  very  eloquent  and  judicious  hietori&D 
whom  I  follow. — Orlandinus,  vbi  swpr. 


ST.   FBANCIS  XAVIER.  Ill 

ordered  a  fleet  to  Socotora,  took  possession  of  the 
island,  expelled  the  infidels,  and  restored  the  peo- 
ple, so  long  oppressed,  to  freedom.* 

Passing  by  the  coast  of  Arabia  and  Persia, 
Xavier  reached  Goa,  the  capital  of  the  Indies. 
That  this  region  had  been  visited  by  St.  Thomas, 
and  watered  by  the  blood  of  that  holy  apostle,  no 
doubt  can  be  entertained  ;  but,  as  was  observed 
above,  except  some  places  which  still  bore  his 
name,  and  some  faint  traditions  of  his  labors,  no 
vestige  of  Christianity  survived.^  The  first  mis- 
sionaries in  these  parts  were  Franciscans  ;  but 
they  were  few  in  number  ;  and  the  converts  to 
the  faith  were  so  persecuted  by  the  pagans,  that 
little  hope  existed  of  propagating  the  Christian 
religion.  The  Portuguese,  long  deprived  of  the 
benefits  of  the  Church,  had  ceased  to  live,  in  great 
measure,  like  Christians  ;  and  vice,  superstition, 
and  immorality  reigned  triumphantly.  Such  was 
the  condition  of  Goa  when  Xavier  laLded  in  that 
capital.  His  great  sanctity  conciliated,  at  once, 
the  veneration  of  the  bishop,  Alberquercque.  He 
selected  as  his  residence  the  public  hospital ; 
where,  day  and  night,  he  ministered  to  the  spiritual 
and  temporal  wants  of  the  sick.     He  preached  as- 

*  Ibid.  n.  87,  88.  t  Ibid.  n.  89. 


112  ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

siduously,  taught  the  elements  of  the  catechism, 
and  held  daily  conferences  ;  gathering  together  the 
people  by  the  sound  of  a  bell  which  he  himself 
rang  through  the  streets  for  that  purpose,  evincing 
thus  the  lowliest  humility  and  the  most  ardent 
charity.*     A  seminary,  under  the  name  of  St.  Paul, 

*  The  strange  levity  with  which  the  otherwise  philosophic 
genius  of  Mr.  Stephen  treats  the  miracles  which  were 
wrought  by  the  Almighty  Power  through  the  ministry  oi 
Xavier,  would,  were  it  to  be  applied  to  others,  admitted  by 
himself,  destroy  the  entire  veracity  and  divinity  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion.  That  Xavier  performed  miracles  is  no  article 
of  our  faith :  the  facts,  like  all  others,  depend  upon  testi- 
mony and  authority.  The  pontiff,  Urban  VIII.,  therefore, 
by  whom  he  was  canonized,  did  not,  according  to  Mr.  Ste- 
phen's language,  "  pledge  his  papal  infallibility"  in  their  be- 
half. Infallibility  pertains  to  the  Church  not  in  matters  of 
ordinary  facts,  but  in  transmitting  from  age  to  age,  unim- 
paired and  unadulterated,  the  deposit  of  truth,  committed  by 
Christ  to  her  sacred  keeping.  Mr.  Stephen  would  fain  make 
us  believe  that  Xavier  scoffed  at  the  idea  of  the  virtue  of 
performing  miracles  by  his  agency,  or  that  of  any  other  mor- 
tal man.  "  Two  persons  revealed  to  him  a  tale  of  his  having 
raised  a  dead  child  to  life,  and  pressed  him  to  reveal  the 
truth.  What,  he  replied,  I  raise  the  dead?  can  you  really 
believe  such  a  thing  of  a  wretch  like  me  ?  Then  smiling,  he 
added :  They  did,  indeed,  'place  before  me  a  child :  they  said 
it  was  dead,  which,  perhaps,  was  not  the  case.  I  told  him  to 
get  up,  and  he  did  so.    Do  you  coil  that  a  miracle  f" 


ST.   FEANCIS   XAVIER  113 

was  established,  over  which  Xavier  placed  his  com- 
panion, Father  Camerte. 

Having  restored  discipline  in  the  church  of  Goa, 
lie  departed  for  the  coast  of  Malabar,  a  pearl  fish- 
ery, more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  distant, 
so  named  from  the  pearls  with  which  the  waters 
abound.*     The  inhabitants  styled  themselves  Chris- 

Tlie  "perhaps,"  uttered  by  the  humble  apostle,  sufficiently 
indicates  that  of  his  own  nothingness  he  conceived  so  de- 
based an  idea,  that  he  desired  others  not  to  think  differently 
of  him.  If  Mr.  Stephen  had  called  to  his  mind  an  almost 
parallel  case  in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  he  would  have  paused 
ere  he  pronounced  so  biting  a  sarcasm.  When  Christ  was 
conjured  by  the  ruler  to  raise  his  daughter  from  death,  did 
he  not  reply,  she  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth  t  and  yet  she  was 
dead,  and  the  bystanders  laughed  at  him.  (Matt.  chap,  ix.) 
Does  it  follow  that  because  the  Saviour  expressed  himself  in 
this  manner,  that  he  did  not  look  upon  the  resuscitation  of 
the  damsel  as  a  miraculous  act  ?  Let  not  the  Protestant  say 
there  is  no  logic  in  this  argument  because  one  reputed 
prodigy  was  effected  by  a  man,  and  the  other  real  one  by 
the  Son  of  God.  Both  the  one  and  the  other  were  the  works 
of  Omnipotence.  The  apostles,  all  concede,  were  made  the 
agents  of  that  Omnipotence  ;  and  who  will  dare  say  that  the 
arm  which  was  extended  in  prodigies  and  wonders  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world,  was,  in  the  incredulous  age  ot 
Xavier,  or  is,  in  our  own,  no  longer  clad  with  the  same  glo« 
rious  and  awful  attributes  ? 

*  Ibid.  94 

10* 


114  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

tians,  but  possessed  the  name  merely.  On  his 
arrival,  Xavier  hastened  to  baptize  a  multitude  of 
children,  and  to  announce  the  kingdom  of  heaven 
to  the  pagans.  In  order  to  convince  them  of  the 
divinity  of  the  doctrine  which  he  proclaimed,  sev- 
eral miracles  were  here  wrought  through  his 
agency  ;  of  which  the  most  astounding — but  well 
authenticated — was  the  restoration  to  life  of  two 
dead  persons.* 

One  of  the  most  important  duties  of  a  mission- 
ary, is  the  teaching  of  the  catechism.  Upon  this 
Xavier  devoted  his  assiduous  attention.  And  as 
the  inhabitants  of  the  fishery  and  Cape  Como- 
rin  were  ignorant  of  the  Portuguese  tongue,  he 
selected  a  number  of  individuals  of  that  nation,  by 
whom  the  catechism  might  be  translated  into  the 
vernacular  language.  He  then  collected  the 
children,  at  the  sound  of  a  bell,  and  taught  them 
the  elements  of  Christian  doctrine.  Through  the 
children  he  communicated  instruction  to  their 
parents  and  friends.  On  Sundays  and  holy-days 
he  convened  all,  and  invoking  the  Most  Holy  Trin- 

*  Ibid.  n.  98,  99.  For  the  particulars,  see  Orlandinus,  as 
also,  tlie  Life  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  by  Pere  Bouhours, 
translated  by  Dryden.  In  these  miracles,  we  contemplate 
the  fulfilment  of  Christ's  promise  :  In  nomine  meo  demonia 
tyicient,  &c. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIEB.  115 

ity,  recited  (the  whole  multitude  repeating  it  with 
him)  the  Apostles'  Creed,  the  Decalogue,  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  and  the  angelical  salutation.  He  then 
asked  whether  they  firmly  believed  each  article  of 
the  creed  ;  to  which  the  entire  multitude,  with  deaf- 
ening vociferation,  responded  :  We  believe.*  They 
then  united  with  him  in  this  prayer  :  "  Jesus,  Son 
of  God,  give  us  the  grace  to  believe  firmly,  and 
without  doubting,  every  article  of  faith."  The 
fruits  produced  by  the  zeal  of  the  holy  missionary 
were  incredible.  Morals  were  reformed  ;  vast  mul- 
titudes of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  were  baptized  ; 
the  idols  were  thrown  down  with  every  mark  of 
ignominy,  and  a  complete  triumph  uf  Christianity 
was  achieved.  His  sanctity  not  only  shone  out  in 
his  heroic  virtues  with  such  brilliancy  as  to  attract 
the  admiration  of  all,  but  it  was  rendered  wonder- 
ful by  the  many  prodigies  which  he  performed  in 
the  name  of  Christ.f 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  62. 

f  The  following  beautiful  extract  from  Mr.  Carnes's  article 
on  "  Francis  Xavier,"  will  be  read  with  delight.  So  eloquent 
a  tribute,  emanating  from  a  Protestant  pen  is  invaluable  in- 
deed : 

"  When  a  commanding  spirit  is  let  loose  on  its  chosen 
destiny,  how  swiftly  and  riohly  it  can  people  its  own  excit- 
ing world  I  His  head  reclining  ^nthe  rock,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  the  ocean,  which  he  peculiarly  V^  ***d  Francis  often  saw 


116  ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

The  Brahmins  saw  with  jealous  indignation,  the 
inroads  which  he  made    upon  their  influence    ana 

with  a  prescience  that  to  his  friends  seemed  like  a  familial 
vpirit,  the  veil  of  the  future  withdrawn — the  chequered,  the 
wild  and  terrible  future.  He  saw  it  with  a  kindling  eye, 
for  he  panted  for  the  struggle.  There  was  another  quality 
of  his  mind,  that  was  of  inexpressible  avail ;  namely,  its 
wild  sublimity,  its  insatiate  reaching  unto  the  things  that 
are  before,  that  first  awoke  within  him  when  Ignatius 
pointed  to  the  thrones  of  heaven,  and  never  afterwards  for- 
sook him.  '  Eternity  only,  Francis,  is  sufficient  for  such  a 
neart  a,s  yours  :  its  kingdom  of  glory  alone  is  worthy  of  it : 
be  ambitious,  be  magnanimous,  but  level  at  the  loftiest 
mark.'  This  passion,  as  it  may  be  called,  was  as  absorbing 
as  that  of  ambition  to  the  successful  statesman  or  warrior, 
filling  every  faculty,  haunting  him  when  asleep  or  awake, 
ever  expecting  great  events — as  in  the  vision  in  Lisbon, 
when  islands,  empires,  and  deserts  were  presented  to  him, 
and  he  cried  out,  '  Yet  more,  0  God !  yet  more  !'  If  it  had 
been  possible,  he  would  have  kept  his  eyes  from  slumber, 
and  his  thoughts  from  oblivion ;  he  literally  '  murdered 
sleep,'  allowing  himself  only  three  hours'  repose.  '  He 
often,'  it  is  said,  '  passed  the  night  in  the  open  air  ;  and  noth- 
ing so  much  elevated  his  soul  to  Grod,  as  the  view  of  heaven, 
spangled  over,  and  sowed  as  it  were  with  stars  ;'  in  that  inef 
fable  beauty  of  an  Eastern  night,  when  sea  and  sky,  island 
and  grove,  seem  like  a  fairy  vision,  arrayed  in  a  light  that  is 
not  of  this  world.  It  was  to  the  missionary  a  season  of  si- 
lence and  quiet :  no  sooner  did  the  morning  break  on  the 
waters,  than  he  surrendered  every  hour  and  moment  to  the 


ST.    FRANCIS  XAVIER.  117 

supeistitions.  These  priests  were,  at  the  same 
time,  of  royal  descent,  and  exercised  an  unbounded 
sway,  as  well  by  the  position  they  held,  as  also  by 
the  knowledge  of  the  magic  art,  and  their  skill  in 
the  interpretation  of  omens.  Among  the  Indians 
they  were  regarded  as  the  Haruspices  of  old  by 
the  Romans.  They  were  sagacious,  but  not  re- 
fined by  mental  culture  ;  actuated  in  their  measures 
by  avarice,  and  wielding  over  the  public  mind  an 
irresistible  power  of  deception.  To  the  vulgar  and 
simple  they  appeared  gifted  with  supernatural  wis- 
dom and  adorned  with  eminent  virtues.  They  af- 
fected great  abstinence  and  devotion  to  their  pagods. 
Some  of  them  even  professed  perpetual   celibacy. 

calls  of  others  :  the  Paravas  quickly  gathered  round  to  be 
instructed,  or  talk  with  him  ;  numbers  crowded  to  the  chap- 
els :  the  day  did  not  pass  without  two- or  three  sermons  or 
exhortations  ;  and  when  night  came  again,  the  soul  panted 
to  be  alone  :  how  welcome,  when  the  clash  of  tongues,  and 
importunate  demands,  and  hurrying  footsteps  paused  at  last, 
and  he  heard  no  sound  save  the  plaintive  song  of  some  lone- 
ly fisherman,  and  the  low  dash  of  his  oar  as  he  hastened  to 
the  land  !  In  these  solemn  moments,  he  was  like  the  prophet, 
intensely  looking  forth,  and  calling  from  on  high,  '  Watch- 
man,  what  of  the  night  ?  Watchman,  what  of  the  night  ? 
and  he  answered  and  said,  The  graven  images  of  her  gods 
he  hath  broken  to  pieces  ;  within  a  year  all  the  glory  of  the 
heathen  shall  fail.'  " — Lives  of  Eminent  Catholic  Missionaries. 


118  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

These  men,  extremely  austere,  abstained  from  the 
pleasures  of  the  body  for  a  certain  term  of  years  : 
after  which,  raised,  as  they  imagined,  above  the 
level  of  mortals,  they  obtained  unrestrained  license 
for  sensual  indulgence,  were  bound  by  no  laws, 
and  indulged  in  all  manner  of  crimes  with  impu- 
nity. Among  these  people  the  ape  was  an  object  of 
divine  adoration,  and  the  elephant  and  the  ox 
were  worshipped.*  To  expose  the  fraud,  hypoc- 
risy, idolatry,  and  vices  of  the  Brahmins,  was  no 
inconsiderable  undertaking.  Yet  Xavier  did  not 
shrink  from  it.  In  a  public  disputation  with  them, 
he  put  this  question  :  "  What  form  of  life  do  the 
gods  require  to  constitute  human  happiness  V1 
The  question  took  them  by  surprise  :  they  sought 
to  evade  answering  it  ;  and,  after  wrangling 
among  themselves,  at  length  they  referred  the 
matter  to  one  of  their  priests,  a  Brahmin  of  ex- 
treme old  age,  who,  attempting  to  escape  from 
the  difficulty,  retorted  the  same  query  on  Xavier  : 
"  What  does  your  God  require  VJ  he  asked.  Xa- 
vier,  however,  perceiving  his  cunning,  urged  and 


*  Ibid.  n.  69,  70.  Fanum  est  Simio  dicatum.  Elephantis 
etiam  religionem  numinis  tribuunt :  Bobua  autem  eo  maja 
rem  quod  mortuorum  amnios  in  earn  maxime  belluam  mi 
grare  opinantur.  Even  here  we  find  the  far-spread  system 
of  Pythagoras  teaching  the  transmigration  of  spirits. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  119 

repeated  the  interrogation.  Compelled  to  letray 
his  ignorance,  the  Brahmin  answered  :  "  A  ll  who 
wish  to  possess  the  gods,  must  be  governed  by 
two  laws  :  first,  to  abstain  from  slaying  calves, 
under  the  form  of  which  the  gods  are  worshipped  ; 
secondly,  that  all  worshippers  bestow  a  portion  of 
their  goods  and  fortunes  upon  the  Brahmins."* 

The  zeal  of  Xavier  being  excited  by  this  reply, 
he  began,  incontinently,  to  explain,  with  a  loud 
voice,  the  Decalogue,  and  to  recite  the  Apostles' 
Creed,  in  their  vernacular  language.  He  then  in- 
structed them  concerning  hell  and  heaven,  and 
concluded  with  an  animated  exhortation.  He  had 
hardly  finished,  when  the  Brahmins  rushed  into  his 
arms,  acknowledging  that  there  was  no  other  God 
than  the  God  of  the  Christians,  whose  law  was  so 
conformable  to  natural  reason  ;  and  which,  after 
due  preparation,  they  were  permitted  to  embrace, 
through  the  sacrament  of  regeneration.-)- 

Amid  these  cares  and  labors — on  which,  however, 
the  favor  of  Heaven  so  copiously  descended — the 
heart  of  Xavier  was  replenished  with  consolations, 
and  seemed  already  to  anticipate  its  blessed  re- 
ward. In  a  letter  to  Rome,  he  affirms  that  so  ex- 
cessive was  his  joy  in  the  arduous  and  fatiguing 

*  Ibid.  n.  70.  t  Ibid. 


120  ST.    FRANCIS    XAVIEB. 

ministry  in  which  he  was  engaged  among  these 
barbarous  nations,  that  it  sweetened  and  glad- 
dened his  existence.  Often,  overpowered  with 
celestial  delights,  he  would  exclaim:  "Lord,  do 
not  lavish  upon  me  such  joys  in  this  life  : — rather, 
if  I  must  be  favored  with  them,  translate  me  hence 
to  those  happy  realms  above.  For,  to  him  who 
has  once  tasted  thy  joys,'  this  life  must  be  bitter 
indeed.     If  such  be  exile,  what  will  our  country 

be  ?  "  * 

Having  reaped  an  abundant  harvest  at  Cape 
Comorin,  he  returned  to  Goa,  in  order  to  transact 
with  the  Governor  some  important  business  regard- 
ing- religion.  He  took  with  him  several  youths  of 
the  highest  families,  to  be  educated  in  the  college 
which  had  been  founded  in  that  city.  By  all  the 
citizens  his  return  was  greeted  with  a  general  wel- 
come. As  was  his  wont,  after  paying  his  respects 
to  the  Bishop  and  Governor,  he  took  up  his  lodg- 
ings in  the  public  hospital.  The  affairs  which 
brought  him  to  Goa,  being  speedily  arranged,  he 
hurried  back  to  Cape  Comorin,  with  three  priests, 

*  Domine,  noli  me  tantis  obruere  in  hac  vita  deliciis  .  .  . 
vel  transfer  me  hinc  ociiis  in  istas  sedes,  regionemque  bea- 
torum.  Qui  tuam  semel  dulcedinem  gustavit,  is  necesse  est 
acerbam  prorsus  vitam  sine  te  agat.  .  .  Qua?  si  tanta  in  exilio^ 
quanta  tandem  erit  in  patria.     Ibid.  n.  74. 


ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER.  121 

with  whom  he  divided  the  province.     His  presence 
at  the  Cape,  at  this  juncture,  was  most  auspicious. 
For  the  people  of  Badaga,  a  wild  and  lawless  ban- 
ditti, incited,  at  once,  by  the  lust  of  gain  and  the 
hatred  of  the  Christian  name,  had  made  a  descent 
upon  that  entire  region.     But  they  were  repulsed 
D}'  the  faithful  and   shut  up  in   rocks  and  preci- 
pices, where  they  would  have  perished  with  hunger, 
thirst,  and  misery,  had  not  Xavier  come  to  their  re- 
lief, and  rescued  them  from  their  impending  fate.* 
He  then  passed  over  to  Travancor  by  land,  a  jour- 
ney of  about  eighty  miles.     The  inhabitants  were 
fishermen,  partly  Saracens,  and  partly  pagans,  and 
all  vehemently  opposed  to  Xavier  on  account  of  the 
conversions  he  had  made.     Disregarding,  however, 
their  fury,  and  in  spite  of  the  solicitations  of  his 
friends  to  the  contrary,  he  boldly  dared  to  appear 
amongst  them.    Nay,  he  forced  his  way  even  to  the 
tyrant  himself,  whom  he  succeeded  in  conciliating 
by  bland  conversation,  insinuating  religious  truth, 
dissuading  him  from  the  superstitions  of  his  coun- 
try, and  enforcing  the  necessity  of  the  adoration  of 
the  true  God.     If  the  earnest  exhortations  of  the 
apostle  did  not  convert  the  tyrant,  they,  at  least, 
had  the   effect  to   allow  his  subjects  to  embrace 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  141, 142. 
11 


122  ST.    FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

Christianity.*  A  decree  sanctioning  this  tolera- 
tion having  been  extorted  by  the  persuasive  power 
of  Xavier,  more  than  ten  thousand  persons  ranked 
themselves  under  the  banners  of  salvation.f  The 
labor  of  instructing  and  baptizing  this  immense 
multitude  he  bore  almost  single-handed,  but  with 
so  much  cheerfulness  and  rapture,  that  he  declared 
himself,  in  a  letter  to  Ignatius,  unable  to  give  ex- 
pression to  it  in  writing.  Among  the  people,  who 
i. 

beheld,  with  amazement,  his  boundless  energy,  and 
incomparable  zeal,  he  acquired  the  appellation  of 
the  "Great  Father."  At  first,  he  preached  in  the 
open  air,  on  the  wide  field,  in  the  valley  ;  and  some- 
times, the  better  to  command  the  view  of  his  num- 
berless hearers,  from  the  very  branches  of  some 
lofty  tree.  Before  chapels  were  erected,  he  offered 
the  holy  mysteries  on  a  rustic  altar  under  a  spread- 
ing tent.  But  as  soon  as  possible  sacred  edifices 
were  built  :  of  which,  in  a  short  time,  not  less  than 
twenty  dotted  and  consecrated  the  land.J 

In  planting  the  tree  of  religion  on  this  bleak 
and  barren  soil,  miracles,  as  we  have  seen,  were 
wrought ;  but  it  was  necessary  that  it  should  be 
watered,  too,  by  the  blood  of  martyrs.  This  glori- 
ous boon  was  not  refused  by  Providence.     In  the 

*  Ibid.  n.  145,  146.  \  Ibid.  %  Ibid.  n.  149, 150. 


ST.   FRAJSTC1S   XAVIER.  123 

island  of  Manaria  six  hundred  Christians  were  put 
to  death  for  their  faith.* 

From  the  island  of  Macazaria,  (about  fifty  miles 
distant  from  Cochin-China,  where  he  had  passed 
the  preceding  year,)  Xavier  sailed  to  Ceylon,  in 
company  with  Mansilla.  His  first  conquest  there 
was  the  king's  son,  who  was  privately  baptized,  to- 
gether with  his  cousin  and  several  noblemen.")" 

On  quitting  Ceylon,  Xavier  stopped  at  Meliapor, 
with  the  view  of  making  a  pilgrimage  to  the  tomb 
of  St.  Thomas.  This  was  a  large  and  flourishing 
city  of  the  Portuguese,  about  a  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  distant  from  Comorin  and  equidistant  from 
Goa,  situated  in  a  region  called  Coromandel.  The 
shrine  of  the  apostle  had  originally  been  a  pagan 
temple,  which  he  himself,  however,  had  rescued 
from  the  rites  of  idolatry,  and  dedicated  to  the 
worship  of  the  true  and  only  Deity.J     It  was  re- 

*  Ibid.  n.  151.  The  spectacle  of  primitive  Christianity 
was  here,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  presented  to  the  admira- 
tion of  the  world.  An  apostle  of  Christ  performing  signs 
and  wonders,  and  Neophytes  in  crowds,  stooping  their 
necks,  in  vindication  of  their  faith,  to  the  sword  of  the  exe- 
cutioner. That  apostle  was  a  Jesuit, — those  martyrs  were 
Catholics  1 

f  Lib.  v.  n.  84. 

t  Ibid.  n.  86. 


124  ST.    FRANCIS  XAYIER. 

nowned  and  celebrated  far  and  wide,  and  attracted 
crowds  of  pilgrims,  not  only  among  Christians, 
but  likewise  of  pagans.  It  was  near  this  fane,  on 
the  declivity  of  a  super-impendent  hill,  that  St. 
Thomas  was  martyred  and  interred  ;  and  the  very' 
stone  that  was  sprinkled  with  his  blood,  was  still 
exhibited.*  Over  the  tomb  of  one  of  the  twelve, 
who,  after  the  dispersion  of  the  apostles,  came  into 
these  distant  lands  to  proclaim  the  resurrection 
and  religion  of  Christ,  Xavier,  his  successor,  bent 
in  rapturous  contemplation.  What  wondrous  asso- 
ciations did  not  these  sacred  scenes  excite  in  his 
ardent  soul  !  What  devotion,  zeal,  and  hope  did 
they  not  awaken  and  inflame  !  He  comes  to  rekin- 
dle, amid  the  "  shades  of  death"  that  had  gathered, 
during  nearly  fifteen  hundred  years,  over  these  re- 
gions, the  sacred  torch  of  life  :  to  call  up  the  spirit 
of  truth  and  faith  which  had  been  sleeping,  as  it 
were,  with  the  ashes  of  the  venerable  dead.  A 
follower  of  Jesus — to  succeed,  in  the  work  of 
"evangelizing  good,  evangelizing  peace,"  the  dis- 
ciple of  Christ,  who  had  reared,  in  ancient  days, 


*  Orlandinus  relates  some  marvellous  circumstances  con- 
nected with  this  stone,  which,  as  they  are  merely  given 
upon  local  traditional  authority,  will  not  be  interesting  to 
the  general  reader.     Consult  his  history,  vhi  supr. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  125 

the  (toss  of  Redemption  among  the  nations  afai 
off,  and,  like  his  adorable  Master,  had  shed  his 
blood  for  the  "flock."  That  blood  was  not  shed 
in  vain  ;  the  soil  once  watered  and  fertilized  by  it, 
required  but  the  labor  of  the  spiritual  husband 
man  to  quicken  into  life  the  germ  of  a  rich  har 
vest,  which  stilt  lingered  under  the  rugged  surface. 
And  he  was  here — a  self-devoted  and  heaven- 
directed  missionary — ready  to  consume  his  days  in 
the  heat  and  toil  of  the  field  :  and  prepared,  if 
necessary,  to  imitate  the  heroic  example  of  the 
apostle  near  whose  tomb  he  knelt,  by  laying  down 
his  life  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel,  and  the 
salvation  of  his  fellow-creatures.  The  flame  of  his 
own  piety  and  sanctity  seemed  to  glow  more  in- 
tensely, fed  at  this  hallowed  shrine.  And  his  zeal 
devoured,  as  it  were,  all  the  abuses  and  vices 
which  prevailed  among  the  faithful,  and  which 
resisted  and  set  at  defiance  the  authority  of  the 
clergy  and  prelate.  But,  from  the  dreadful  assaults 
of  the  evil  spirit  he  did  not  escape  ;  by  incessant 
prayers,  however,  during  the  day,  and  habitually  at 
midnight  also,  he  spurned  the  Tartarean  foe,  and 
vanquished  his  power  and  temptations.* 

*  Ibid.  n.  87,  88.    "Even  around  the  tomb  of  the  apostle," 
writes  the  above-quoted  critic,  "malignant  demons  prow] 


126  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIEB. 

This  holy  pilgrimage  being  accomplished,  Xavier 
set  sail  for  Malacca.  This  city  was  a  populous 
and  flourishing  emporium,  situated  beyond  the  Gan- 
ges, and  lying  under  the  pole,  almost  six  hundred 
leagues  from  Goa.  The  showers  fall  almost  daily, 
by  which  the  heat  of  the  sun  is  tempered,  and 
the  fields  are  covered  with  perpetual  verdure. 
The  Christians,  though  professing  the  faith,  had 
assumed  the  depraved  habits  of  the  infidels,  and 
seemed  not  desirous  to  accept  of  the  blessings 
which  were  offered  to  them  through  the  ministry  of 
Xavier.  He  did  not  despair.  With  redoubled  en- 
ergy and  assiduous  perseverance,  he  preached  and 
exhorted,  persuaded  and  menaced,  soothed  and  ter- 
rified, in  such  a  manner,  that  the  longed-for  im- 


by  night,  and  though  strong  in  the  guidance  of  the  Virgin, 
Xavier  not  only  found  himself  in  their  grasp,  but  received 
from  them  blows,  such  as  no  weapon  in  human  hands  could 
have  inflicted.  .  .  .  Baffled  by  a  superior  power,  the  fiends 
opposed  a  still  more  subtle  hindrance  to  his  design  against 
their  kingdom.  In  the  garb,  and  in  the  outward  semblance 
of  a  band  of  choristers,  they  disturbed  his  devotions  by  such 
soul-subduing  strains,  that  the  very  harmonies  of  heaven 
might  seem  to  have  been  awakened  to  divert  the  Christian 
warrior  from  his  heavenward  path.  In  vain  their  fury  and 
their  guile.  He  found  the  direction  he  implored. — St& 
phen. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  127 

pression  was,  finally,  made.  Reflection  took  the 
place  of  dissipation,  the  gospel-maxims  prevailed 
over  the  suggestions  of  the  passions,  and,  in  a  few 
months,  the  entire  face  of  society  was  changed  ; 
morals  were  reformed,  the  practices  of  piety  re- 
sumed, and  a  complete  victory  of  grace  was  ob- 
tained.* His  catechetical  instructions  were  unin- 
terrupted, except  by  other  arduous  duties,  amidst 
which  he  found  time  to  translate  the  elements  of 
the  Christian  doctrine  into  the  language  of  the  na- 
tives of  the  country.  Of  these,  many  were  induced 
to  forsake  their  idolatrous  worship — a  worship 
which  they  paid  to  the  sun,  under  the  bright  ex- 
panse of  the  heavens,  having  no  fanes  nor  altars — 
and  to  join  the  standard  of  Jesus,  which  now 
gleamed  on  the  temples  of  Christianity  under  the 
divine  rays  of  the  "  Sun  of  Righteousness"  and 
Truth.  In  the  middle  of  January  he  embarked 
for  Molucca,  an  island  nine  hundred  miles  from 
Malacca,  thickly  populated  by  natives  and  stran- 
gers, and  filled  with  handsome  towns,  of  which 
seven  were  occupied  by  Christians,  but  deprived  of 
the  benefit  of  clergymen.     The   pagans   were   ar- 

*  Ibid.  n.  91.  Orlandinus  relates,  that,  at  this  epoch,  Xa- 
vier  raised  a  dead  girl  to  life,  and  performed  other  signa) 
miracles.    Ibid.  vid.  vhi  mpr.  n.  92 


12S  ST.    FRANCIS  XAV1ER. 

rayed  in  deadly  hostility  against  the  Mahoinedans, 
who  compelled  the  former  either  to  embrace  the 
Koran,  or  else  to  be  held  in  subjection.  For  seven- 
ty years  the  superstitions  of  Mecca  had  here  pre- 
vailed :  but  the  people  were  rude  and  ignorant, 
and  not  ill-affected  towards  the  teachings  of  Xa- 
vier.*  Through  all  the  Christian  settlements,  he 
rapidly  passed,  baptizing  infants  and  children,  and 
affording  means  of  spiritual  aid  to  adults,  and  ex- 
ercising a  charity  which  no  opposition  could  sub- 
due or  check. f  He  extended  his  labors  to  Am- 
boina,  whence,  after  three  months  of  unceasing  ex- 
ertion, he  proceeded  to  Molucca,  an  island  under 
the  equator,  rich  in  spices,  with  which  it  supplied 
the  whole  world.  There  might  he  be  seen,  day 
and  night,  devoting  himself  to  the  instruction  of  the 
people  ;  and  the  more  effectually  to  imprint  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  the  Creed,  and  the  Hail,  Mary,  upon 
their  memories,  he  rendered  them  into  rhyme,  which, 
like  so  many  familiar  canticles,  were  sung  by  chil- 
dren on  the  house-tops,  by  fishermen  in  their  boats, 


*  Lib.  vi.  n.  105. 

f  Ibid.  n.  104.  Many  of  the  newly  baptized,  our  author 
relates,  expired  immediately  after  having  been  regenerated 
in  the  saving  waters;  as  though  they  had  been  reserved 
merely  to  receive  this  grace. 


ST.    FEANCIS   XAVIER.  129 

by  laborers  in  their  fields.  Among  his  converts, 
the  most  illustrious  was  the  daughter  of  King"  Al- 
mansor,  formerly  a  Saracen  ;  a  woman  of  a  lofty 
and  acute  mind,  and  well  versed  in  the  supersti 
tions  of  her  country.  Her  name,  while  an  infidel, 
was  Neachiles  ;  in  baptism  she  assumed  that  of 
Elizabeth* 

Being  informed  that  in  the  island  of  Moro  many 
Christians  were  settled,  without  any  priests,  Xa- 
vier  determined  to  go  to  their  assistance.  The 
distance  from  Molucca  was  sixty  leagues  ;  the  soil 
barren,  productive  neither  of  wheat  nor  wine,  but 
abounding  with  wild-boar.  The  palmetto-tree  sup- 
plied a  species  of  bread,  and  its  bark  was  used  for 
raiment ;  the  inhabitants  were  ferocious,  inhuman, 
and  stupidly  ignorant,  and  not  only  cruel  towards 
strangers,  but  barbarous  in  their  treatment  of 
one  another.")"  From  this  wild  and  dreary  solitude, 
in  the  midst  of  Moors  and  Tartars,  with  dangers 
and  hardships  frowning  upon  him  on  all  sides,  the 
magnanimous  Xavier,  towering  above  all  natural 
terror,  and  calmly  confiding  and  reposing  in  the 
goodness  and  protection  of  Providence,  addressed 
a  letter  to  his  companions  at  Rome.  "  These 
islands,"  he  wrote,  "it   seems   to   me,   should  be 

♦Ibid.  n.  105.  flMd.n.  106. 


130  ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

styled  Divine  Hope,  rather  than  Moro:  for,  in 
them  I  feel  an  unalloyed  and  perpetual  bliss." 
This  region  was  subject  to  frequent  earthquakes, 
horrid  murmurings,  and  subterranean  fires  :  noises 
more  formidable  tharn  the  sound  of  the  loudest  can 
non  often  shook  the  rocks  to  their  centre,  hurling 
down  huge  trees,  while  the  air  was  filled  with 
clouds  of  ashes  that  strewed  the  scathed  fields,  and 
blinded  both  man  and  beast.*  But  what  were  these 
terraqueous  occurrences  in  the  estimation  of  an 
apostle,  whose  existence  was  consecrated  to  the 
salvation  of  his  race  ?  What  recked  that  holy  man 
of  clime  or  element,  whose  whole  being  was  but  a 
fulfilment  of  the  declaration  of  Christ :  "  Whosoever 
would  save  his  soul  must  lose  it  ?"  Many  of  his 
friends  entreated  him  not  to  risk  his  life  among 
these  barbarous  tribes,  whose  thirst  for  human  blood 
was  innate.  But  their  importunities  could  not 
avert  him  from  performing  what  he  believed  to  be 
God's  will.f  He  flew  to  the  wretched  Christians 
who  were  dwelling  among  them,  desolate  and  lorn, 

*  Ibid. 

f  Ibid.  n.  107.  Our  historian  expresses,  in  splendid  lan- 
guage, the  glorious  change  which,  in  so  short  a  time,  waa 
effected :  "  Cessit  deDique,"  he  says,  "  Christo  Satanas, 
tenebrae  luci,  et  omnis  illius  regionis  tartarea  dominatio  ve- 
uerandsB  crucis  imperio." 


ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER.  131 

During  three  months  he  hurried  from  town  to  town, 
bringing  back  to  a  sense  of  religion  those  who  still 
bore  the  name,  but  long  since  had  forgotten  the 
virtues  and  duties  of  Christians :  baptizing  the 
young,  instructing  the  adult,  converting  numbers 
of  the  pagans,  and  thus  shedding  over  this  dark- 
some region  the  brightest  rays  of  religion  and  civile 
ization. 

He  so  divided  his  labors  as  to  preach  to  the 
Portuguese  in  the  morning,  and  the  Neophytes  in 
the  evening.  He  paid  frequent  visits  to  the  King 
Aerius,  who  appeared  to  delight  in  his  conversa- 
tion, and  gave  some  hope  of  conversion.  The 
Saracens  were  not  strongly  attached  to  their  sect, 
and  the  pagans  showed  less  repugnance  to  the 
pure  doctrines  of  Christ,  than  to  the  sensual  code 
of  Mahomed.  Of  the  latter,  many  received  the 
gospel,  among  whom  by  far  the  most  distinguished 
and  conspicuous  were  the  king's  two  sisters.* 

Duty  now  calling  him  to  Malacca,  he  revisited 
the  Amboinians,  from  whose  compassionate  and 
endearing  embraces,  tearing  himself  away  at  mid- 
night, he  set  sail  for  that  island.  There  he  entered 
again,  with  increased  energy,  upon  his  arduous 
duties.     At  night  he   could  be  seen  with   a  Ian- 

*  Lib.  vii.  n.  85. 


132  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

tern  in  one  band,  and  a  bell  in  the  other,  going 
about  the  city,  admonishing  the  faithful  of  their 
obligations,  and  menacing  sinners  with  the  ven- 
geance of  Heaven  ;  *  commanding  universal  vener- 
ation by  the  manifest  disinterestedness  which  in- 
spired his  conduct,  and  admiration  by  the  power 
which  he  received  from  above  of  working  wonder- 
ful deeds,  and  predicting  future  events.  To  the 
vast  aspirations  of  his  zeal  for  man's  salvation,  no 
limit  could  be  set.  They  extended  as  far  as  there 
was  a  fragment  of  habitable  earth  ;  and  the  more 
distant  the  object  and  the  more  difficult  to  be 
reached,  the  more  irresistible  was  its  force,  and  the 
more  glowing  its  unquenchable  fire.  Upon  the 
vast  vision  of  his  mind  a  new  star  now  appeared — 
a  bright  hope  amid  the  boundless  desolation  and 
darkness  of  the  night  through  which  it  twinkled. 

It  chanced  that  he  fell  in,  at  this  conjuncture, 
with  a  certain  man  whose  name  was  Anger,  a 
native  of  Cangoxima  in  Japan,  who  there  had  be- 
come a  Bonzee.f  In  embracing  this  course  of  life, 
he  was  actuated  by  the  hope  of  obtaining  peace  of 


*  Ibid.  n.  81,  82,  83. 

f  The  Bonzeea  were  men  devoted  to  religion.  Vid.  Or- 
land,  vbi  sitpr.  n.  90.  Turn  demum  in  spem  venit  viam 
sibi  in  eas  insulas  per  honiinem  Japonem  apertum  iri. 


ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER.  133 

conscience.  But,  disappointed  in  this  hope,  he 
resolved  to  seek  among  strangers  for  the  boon 
which  he  could  not  procure  at  home.  Having  re- 
ceived some  information  concerning  the  Christian 
religion  from  the  Portuguese  merchants,  and  heard 
through  them,  likewise,  of  Xaxier,  he  longed  to 
have  an  interview  with  that  holy  missionary.  To 
this  end,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  commit  himself  to 
the  perils  of  a  long  and  tedious  navigation.  He 
arrived  safely  at  Malacca,  and  found,  as  he  had 
anticipated  in  Xavier,  a  teacher,  a  consoler,  and  a 
friend  :  by  whom  he  was  instructed  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Christian  faith,  relieved  of  the  keen 
anguish  which  hitherto  had  preyed  upon  his  con- 
science, and  conducted  into  the  ways  of  spiritual 
peace  and  heavenly  content.  Anger  spoke  to 
Xavier  of  Japan  ;  told  of  the  interminable  field 
that  stretched  out  to  his  as  interminable  zeal,  in 
that  great  country,  and  kindled  in  his  heroic  soul 
those  glorious  desires  which  were  afterwards  so 
wondrously  and  so  magnificently  accomplished  in 
the  Empire  of  Japan.  From  this  most  hazardous 
project  his  friends  used  every  persuasion  to  deter 
him,  on  his  return  to  Goa.  But  to  no  purpose. 
Having  created  Antonio  Gomio  Rector  of  the  Col- 
lege, and  Paul  Camerte  Superior  of  the  Province, 
be  waited  a  favorable  opportunity  to   depart,  to 

12 


134:  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

carry  the  gospel  to  a  people  gifted  with  genius  and 
judgment,  and  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  reception 
of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.*  He  sailed  from 
Cochin-China  in  the  month  of  May,  and,  after  a 
perilous  voyage,  arrived  at  Malacca.  Here  two  cir- 
cumstances were  made  known  to  him,  that  sharp- 
ened, if  possible,  yet  more  keenly  his  hopes  for 
Japan.  One,  that  that  nation  having  heard  of  the 
Christian  law,  had  dispatched  ambassadors  to  the 
governor  of  India,  requesting  that  some  priests 
might  be  sent  among  them.  The  other,  that  the 
holy  cross  was  already  held  in  veneration  by  them, 
its  virtue  having  been  taught  them  by  the  Portu* 
guese,  who  placed  it,  as  an  ornament  and  a  protec- 
tion, in  the  vestibule  of  their  houses.f  Xavier 
burned  to  be  among  this  well-disposed  people  :  and 
not  finding  any  Portuguese  vessel  bound  to  Japan, 
he  intrusted  himself  to  a  Chinese  ship,  styled  "  The 
Robber."  On  the  feast  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  he 
quitted  Malacca,  confiding  his  fate  to  the  protecting 
care  of  Heaven,  and  ever  mindful  of  the  maxim 
which  he  had  learned  from  the  mouth  of  Ignatius, 
namely  :  "  that  the  members  of  the  Society  must 
endeavor  to  conquer  themselves,  must  throw  far 
from  them  all  fears,  must  fix  their  hopes  on  God 

*  Lib.  ix.  n.  161. 162.  t  n>id.  n.  170. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  135 

alone,  whose  grace  will  never  be  wanting  under 
any  trying  circumstances."  *  These  generous  dis- 
positions he  not  only  cherished  in  his  mind,  but 
carefully  practised  in  his  conduct.  After  many 
adventures,  and  great  delay,  on  the  festival  of  the 
assumption  of  the  Ever-Virgin  Mary,  his  eyes  rested 
on  the  island  of  Japan,  and  he  landed  at  Cangoxima, 
a  very  powerful  city  of  Saxuma.  Nothing  could 
have  happened  more  opportunely  ;  for  this  was  the 
home  of  his  convert  Paul,  through  whom  he  was 
received  with  public  demonstrations  of  welcome  by 
the  governor  and  the  nobility .f 

It  would  be  foreign  from  my  design  to  enter  into 
a  lengthy  description  of  Japan  and  its  inhabitants, 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  country,  of  its  form  of  gov- 
ernment, of  its  soil,  of  the  character  and  manners  of 
the*  people,  of  their  love  of  glory  and  nobility,  of 
their  morals,  their  superstitions,  and  their  litera- 
ture.   I  cannot,  however,  omit  to  state,  that  besides 

*  Ibid.  n.  171. 

f  Ibid.  n.  177,  178.  It  seems  to  have  been  by  mere  acci- 
dent that  the  vessel  was  driven  into  this  port.  Divine 
"rovidence  thus  disposing  sweetly  all  events  by  which  to 
facilitate  the  accomplishment,  of  the  great  design  in  view. 
There  are  many  curious  incidents  connected  with  the  voy- 
age which  are  accurately  described  by  the  historian,  but 
which  are  not  necessary  in  a  mere  synopsis. 


136  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

the  gods  called  Cames,  and  Fotoquez,  and  Xaca,  by 
some  the  devil  was  worshipped,  and  to  his  infernal 
majesty  altars  and  temples  were  erected.*  The 
ministers  of  religion  were  nominated  Bonzees,  men 
of  flagitious  and  impure  lives  ;  among  whom  there 
were  many  sects,  distinguished  by  various  forms 
of  superstitions  and  worship.  They  professed  celi- 
bacy, and  to  marry  was  reputed  a  capital  crime. 
They  shaved  their  heads  and  harangued  the  people 
at  their  pleasure,  on  festival  days,  of  which  many 
were  prescribed  throughout  the  year.  They  were 
generally  selected  from  high  families.  They  had, 
in  various  places,  academies  richly  endowed,  where 
their  doctrine  and  discipline  were  taught  ;  and 
acknowledged  a  supreme  head,  who  was  chosen 
either  on  account  of  his  rare  birth  or  great  wealth. 
His  dominion  was  universal,  and  his  income  so 
large,  that  it  often  did  not  yield  to  that  of  the 
king's.  His  residence  was  at  Meaco  ;  under  his 
roof  there  were  more  than  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  idols.  He  was  considered  by  the  vulgar  aa 
most  holy,  and  was  venerated  as  a  divinity,  while 
in  reality  he  was  revelling  in  the  most  shameful 
vices.  J" 
What  a  field   of  battle   here   expanded   to   the 


*  Ibid.  n.  195.  f  Ibid.  n.  198, 199,  202. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  137 

view  of  Xavier,  the  reader  can  have  no  difficulty 
in  imagining.  A  field  on  which  the  virtues  of 
Christianity  must  enter  upon  a  dreadful  conflict 
with  the  crimes  of  paganism  ;  and  the  doctrines  of 
truth  with  diabolical  errors.  But  the  more  terrible 
the  struggle,  the  more  glorious  will  be  the  triumph. 
And,  under  the  guidance  of  Heaven  and  the  aegis 
of  the  cross,  what  has  the  apostle  of  Christ  to 
fear  ?  Nothing  !  He  who  had  already  won  such 
signal  victories  over  the  legions  of  hell,  felt  a 
strength  and  a  confidence  which  nerved  him  for 
the  issue.  He  began  by  opposing  the  Bonzees 
with  their  own  weapons.  They  affected  extraor- 
dinary frugality  and  abstinence  :  he  practised 
still  greater.*  They  were  distinguished — especial- 
ly their  Superior — by  urbanity  and  elegance  of 
manners  :  he  surpassed  them  even  in  these  ;  which 
in  him  were  so  much  admired,  that  he  insinuated 
himself  into  the  favor  of  Ninxit,  then  at  their  head, 
and  the  most  venerable  among  them,  as  well  on 
account  of  his  reputation  for  learning  and  wisdom, 
as  of  his  extreme  old  age.  With  Ninxit  he  dis- 
puted on  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  the  na- 


*  In  such  a  manner,  that  he  himself  declared  that  he  was 
sustained  during  that  time,  less  by  natural  food,  than  dt 
the  nourishment  of  charity.    Ibid.  n.  207. 

12* 


138  ST.   FRA.NCIS  XAVIER. 

tuie  of  religion  ;  and  though  he  silenced  the  jroud 
Bonzee,  and  thereby  excited  all  the  envy  of  a  vain 
and  self-conceited  heart,  still  so  gentle  were  his 
manners  and  so  polished  and  winning  withal,  that 
he  could  not  but  extort  its  admiration.  It  was  evi- 
dent, that  by  no  other  motive  than  that  of  philan- 
thropy and  virtue  could  he  have  been  prompted  to 
pass  such  boundless  oceans,  and  expose  himself  to 
such  countless  perils  and  pains.  Permission  was 
given  him  to  preach  the  gospel  in  Japan.  This 
permission  was  granted  by  a  solemn  edict  of  the 
king  ;  and  no  sooner  did  he  commence  his  heaven- 
ly task,  than  his  undertaking  was  sealed  by  the 
omnipotent  stamp  of  the  King  of  kings.  Like  his 
Divine  Master,  he  healed  a  leper,  cured  a  boy 
afflicted  with  a  mortal  malady,  and  even  raised  a 
deceased  maiden  to  life.*  Many  converts  imme- 
diately enrolled  themselves  under  the  cross,  among 
whom  were  the  wife  and  daughter  of  Paul. 

By  the  Bonzees,  the  miracles  of  Xavier,  which 
they  did  not  deny,  were  attributed  to  the  power  of 
the  devils  and  the  effects  of  incantation  and  charms  ; 
and  could  they  have  prevailed  with  the  king,  his 
head  would  have  paid  the  forfeit  of  his  success. 

*  For  the  details,  see  Orlandinus,  ubi  supr.  n.  113,  114, 
115, 116. 


ST.    FRANCIS   XAV1EK.  139 

But  the  king  spurned  them  from  his  presence,  and 
exhibited  still  more  admiration  of  the  apostlo  and 
his  doctrines.  Encouraged  by  these  tokens  of 
royal  benevolence  and  favor,  he  resumed  his  la- 
bors with  tenfold  enthusiasm,  proclaiming  Christ 
and  the  gospel  in  the  public  streets,  and  confuting 
and  confounding  the  sophistry  and  errors  of  the 
priests  of  idolatry.  So  profound  were  the  convic- 
tions, so  firm  the  constancy,  so  pure  the  morals 
of  the  first  Japanese  Christians,  that  the  king  of 
Saxuma  wrote  to  Father  Anthony  Quadrio,  the 
Provincial  of  India,  conjuring  him  to  send  to  his 
dominions  some  other  missionaries,  by  whom  the 
Christian  law  might  be  spread  throughout  the  en- 
tire region,  and  the  morals  of  his  subjects  might  be 
made  conformable  to  its  holy  standard.* 

From  Cangoxima,  Xavier  pursued  his  way  to 
Firando,  where  he  was  received  with  every  de- 
monstration of  respect  and  welcome  by  the  Por- 
tuguese inhabitants,  and  the  king  himself,  who 
granted  him  license  to  announce  the  gospel  to 
his  subjects.  He  converted  many,  and  erected  a 
church,  which  leaving  to  the  charge  of  Father 
Cosmo  Turriano,  he  proceeded  to  Firando,  and 
thence   to   Mecao,    a   large   and    flourishing    city, 

*Ibid.  n.  222.    - 


140  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

whose  king  possessed  immense  wealth  and  powei 
Here  Xavier  met  with  many  distinguished  families 
desirous  of  learning  the  Christian  law,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  great  fame,  which  had  already  pre- 
ceded him.  He  was  followed  by  thousands,  though 
not  treated  by  all  with  the  same  respect.  But  the 
admirable  patience  and  meekness  he  displayed  in 
the  midst  of  the  insults  which  he  frequently  was 
subjected  to  in  the  public  streets,  won  the  admira- 
tion of  the  more  reflecting  and  better  disposed. 
The  king  listened  to  the  sublime  maxims  which  he 
taught,  and  heard,  in  wondering  silence,  during 
the  space  of  an  hour,  the  explanation  of  the  word 
of  God  contained  in  the  holy  Scriptures.  He  won- 
dered, and  was  silent,  but  did  not  yield  to  the 
grace  which  was  offered.  He  continued  in  his 
superstitions,  and  his  obstinacy  encouraged  that  of 
his  subjects,  of  whom  few  were  induced  to  range 
themselves  under  the  banners  of  Christianity.* 

From  Mecao,  the  untiring  apostle  cast  his  eyes 
back  upon  the  expanding  fields  of  labor  at  Mea- 
co,  and  resolved  to  visit  again  a  capital  soon  to 


*  Lib.  x.  n.  135, 136,  137.  De  Meacensis  Urbis  magnitu- 
dine,  collegiorum  celebritate,  ccenobiorum  multitudine  va- 
rietateque  cognorat ;  et  jam  turn  in  animnm  induxerat  eo 
recta  contendere. 


ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER.  141 

be  covered  with  abundant  fruit :  to  be  distinguished 
for  its  numerous  churches,  prosperous  colleges,  and 
extensive   charitable   institutions.*      He   occupied 
two  months  in  the  journey,  each  moment  of  which 
added  a  fresh  leaf  to  the  crown  of  his  merit  in 
heaven.     For,  besides  the  roughness  of  the  roads, 
which  were  covered  with  deep  snow,  they  were, 
moreover,  infested  with  robbers.     The  season  was 
extremely  cold,  and  his  feet  were  ulcerated  with 
frost,  being  obliged  to  cross  frequent  streams,  and 
wade  through  torrents,  without  shoes,  carrying  his 
baggage  upon  his  shoulders,  and  passing   entire 
days  without  eating.     Add  to  all  these  complicated 
miseries,  the  insults  and  contumely  he  underwent 
in  the  towns  and  villages  through  which  he  passed. 
To  every  humiliation  as  well  as  hardship  he  cheer- 
fully resigned  himself,  and  lost  no  opportunity  of 
announcing  the  name  of  Christ,  and  showing  the 
folly   of  idolatry.      At   length,    after   innumerable 
sufferings,  and  the  conquest  of  some  converts  made 
on  the  way,  he  arrived,  worn  out  and  emaciated,  at 
Meaco.f     In  this  splendid  metropolis  and  seat  of 
empire,   Xavier  had  long  but  vainly  struggled  to 
obtain  an  interview  with  the  proud  emperor  ;  every 
avenue  to  the  throne  he  found  closed  against  his 

*  Ibid.  n.  138.  t  Lib.  xi  n.  100. 


142  ST.   FRANCIS   XAVIER. 

efforts.  He,  therefore,  turned  his  attention  towards 
his  subjects,  who,  unfortunately,  agitated  by  the 
expectation  of  an  impending  war,  sealed  their  ears 
likewise  to  his  preaching.*  Not  to  lose  his  pre- 
cious time  on  that  ungenerous  soil,  he  hastened  to 
Amanguchi,  reciting  as  he  went  the  Psalm  of 
David  :  In  eocitu  Israel  de  JEgypto.^  There  he  was 
received  with  distinguished  favor  by  the  king,  who 
offered  the  illustrious  stranger  a  quantity  of  gold 
and  silver.  Xavier,  with  his  wonted  disinterest- 
edness, refused  the  present,  requesting  the  mon- 
arch to  grant  him  merely  one  privilege  :  namely, 
that  of  announcing  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
the  people  under  his  dominion.  This  greatness  of 
mind  and  contempt  of  riches  excited  the  admira- 
tion of  the  king.  A  house  of  the  Bonzees  was 
assigned  him  as  a  place  of  residence,  and  a  decree 
issued  authorizing  him  to  proclaim  in  public  the 
law  of  God  and  the  tidings  of  salvation.  Day  and 
night  he  continued  the  holy  work  of  preaching,  and 
disputing  with  the  learned  men  of  the  place.  His 
house  was  constantly  besieged  by  crowds  of  curious 
persons  of  all  orders,  and  ages,  and  dispositions  ; 

*  Ibid.  n.  101,  102. 

f  Psalm  cxiii.  1.     When  Israel  went  out  of  Egypt,  the 
house  of  Jacob  from  a  barbarous  people. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  143 

and  thousands,  finally,  yielding  to  the  force  of  truth 
forsook  their  false  gods,  and  abjured  their  absurd 
superstitions.*  Again  the  seal  of  the  Omnipotent 
was  impressed  on  the  dogmata  which  Xavier 
taught.  Contemporary  evidences  show  that  by  the 
sign  of  the  cross,  he  effected  sudden  and  marvel- 
lous cures,  and  performed  other  indubitable  mira- 
cles.f  The  consequence  was,  that  ten  thousand 
Amanguchians  became  Christians,  and  models  of 
the  virtues  which  constitute  the  ornaments  of  the 
Christian  name. 

The  joy  of  Xavier  on  account  of  this  his  unex- 
ampled success,  was  increased  by  the  receipt  of  a 
letter  from  the  king  of  Bungo,  couched  in  terms  of 
affection  and  respect,  and  expressive  of  an  ardent 
desire  to  see  him.  Though  the  distance  was  four 
hundred  leagues,  the  apostle  set  out  immediately. 
By  the  Portuguese,  he  was  advised  to  make  his 
appearance  at  that  capital  accompanied  by  a  mag- 
nificent retinue,  and  in  splendid  attire.|  The  ves- 
sel in  which  he  embarked  was  decorated  with 
silken  sails  and  gorgeous  pennons  :  and  he  entered 
the  port  amid  the  clangor  of  trumpets    and  the 


*  Ibid.  n.  104. 

f  The  details  are  given,  tibi  supr ,  n.  110. 

\  Ibid.  n.  116. 


144  ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

sound  of  music.  On  the  shore,  he  was  received 
with  great  ceremony  by  a  deputation  assigned  bj 
the  monarch,  and  conducted  to  the  palace.  The 
effect  which  his  instructions  produced  on  the  king's 
mind  was  most  beneficial  to  morals  and  religion, 
and  a  happy  change  was  soon  perceptible  in  the 
city.  The  infamous  rites  of  the  Bonzees  were  sup- 
pressed, the  sacrifice  of  infants  prohibited,  and  the 
lewd  and  dissolute  practices  which  had  hitherto 
prevailed  in  their  superstitious  functions  entirely 
abolished.  This  mutation,  it  is  evident,  could  not 
be  brought  about  without  exciting  the  rancor  and 
vengeance  of  the  Bonzees.  The  most  noble  and 
renowned  among  them,  accordingly,  undertook  to 
dispute  the  subject  with  him,  in  presence  of  the 
king  and  nobles.  The  dispute  resulted  in  the  sol- 
emn humiliation  of  the  priest  of  Satan,  the  glorious 
triumph  of  truth,  and  the  conversion  of  thousands 
of  citizens  of  Bungo.* 

After  planting  religion  in  these  strange  regions, 
Xavier  prepared  to  return  into  India,  taking  with 
him,  like  some  victor  after  the  conquest  of  a  distant 
land,  two  captives — not,  indeed,  to  the  yoke  of  an 
earthly  hero,  but  to  the  grace  of  heaven — two  Ne- 
ophytes, Matthew  and  Bernard,  whom  he  intended 

*  Ibid.  n.  118, 119, 120, 121, 122. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  145 

to  send  to  Rome  as  specimens  of  the  natives  of  Ja- 
pan. The  king  of  Bungo  wept  at  his  departure, 
and  mingled  his  sorrows  with  the  hearty  regrets 
and  lamentations  of  the  Portuguese  and  converts. 
A  period  of  two  years  had  elapsed  since  he  first 
put  foot  on  the  shores  of  Cangoxima,  and,  after  a 
tempestuous  voyage,  he  arrived  at  Cochin,  hailed 
and  greeted  by  the  unanimous  acclaim  of  all. 
Having  during  his  sojourn  there  edified  and  ani- 
mated the  faithful  by  his  sanctity  and  exhortations, 
he  continued  his  way  to  Goa  ;  where,  no  sooner 
had  he  disembarked,  than  he  hastened,  as  was  his 
custom,  to  the  hospital,  and  imparted  consolation 
to  the  sick  and  suffering,  and  then  proceeded  to 
the  college.* 

But  it  was  not  to  rest  long,  much  less  to  spend 
the  remnant  of  his  years  under  the  shades  of  re- 
tirement and  quiet,  that  he  repaired  within  its 
peaceful  walls.  No  ;  his  insatiable  zeal  was  never 
satisfied.  His  mind  seemed  vast  as  the  universe 
itself.  His  aspirations  owned  no  bounds  but  eter- 
nity. Reposing  like  a  wearied  soldier  after  a 
wasting  but  glorious  campaign,  it  was  only  to 
gather  new  strength  for  other  fields,  fresh  energies 
for  other  conquests.     Not  content  with  the  mighty 

»  Lib.  xii.  n.  78, 79. 
13 


146  ST.    FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

conquest  of  the  Indies  and  Japan,  his  vision  turned 
to  another  and  still  a  mightier  one.  China  must 
be  entered.  That  region,  hitherto  inclosed  and 
protected  from  the  stranger  by  adamantine  walls, 
must  open  its  gates  to  the  messenger  of  Jesus. 
Having  made  all  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
the  domestic  economy  of  the  Society,  and  appointed 
Father  Barzeus  Provincial  of  the  Indies,  he  sailed 
from  Goa  in  the  month  of  May  for  Malacca,  where 
he  embarked  again,  and,  favored  by  the  winds, 
soon  reached  the  coast  of  China.* 

The  great  question  now  was,  in  what  manner  he 
could  effect  an  entrance  into  that  sealed  country, 
into  which  to  admit  a  stranger,  was  a  crime  liable 
to  be  punished  with  the  severest  penalties.  Some- 
times he  seemed  resolved  to  force  his  way,  and 
brave  the  danger  :  for,  anhelating  after  the  salva- 
tion of  the  people,  his  magnanimous  spirit  spurned 
the  menace  of  punishment  or  death.  At  other 
times,  having  consulted  with  his  brethren  and  some 
enlightened  Portuguese,  his  ardor  was  checked  by 
his  prudence.  Meanwhile  he  was  seized  by  a  fever, 
under  which  he  suffered  during  fifteen  days.  On 
his  bed  of  sickness  he  had  time  leisurely  and  calm- 
ly to   consider  the   enterprise  so  near  his  heart. 

*  Ibid.  n.  86,  97. 


ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER.  147 

The  language  of  our  Divine  Master  seemed  to 
ring  perpetually  in  his  ears :  "  He  who  putteth 
his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  looketh  back,  is  not 
worthy  of  me."  Not,  indeed,  that  the  words  could, 
in  any  wise,  apply  to  him,  who  had  forsaken  all 
things,  and  devoted  his  whole  existence  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lord,  but  his  humility  and  zeal  referred 
them  to  the  project  which  he  had  commenced,  of 
penetrating  into  China.  He  arose  from  his  sick-bed 
confirmed  in  his  first  determination  :  and  though 
he  saw  no  means  of  accomplishing  it,  according 
to  human  appearances,  still  he  did  not  despond. 
But  God,  in  whose  presence  the  ardent  desires  of 
the  apostle  were  as  meritorious  as  their  consumma- 
tion, was  satisfied  with  the  labors  of  Xavier.  His 
life  had  been  spent  in  fatigue,  peril,  and  labor  :  it 
is  now  time  for  him  to  be  taken  into  rest.  He  had 
succeeded  in  landing  upon  the  Chinese  soil,— the 
task  of  entering  into  the  interior  must  be  left  to 
other  missionaries.  He  relapsed  into  the  fever 
from  which  he  had  temporarily  recovered.  Upon 
a  heap  of  straw,  under  a  wretched  cot,  he  lies  in  a 
bleak  and  inhospitable  land.  The  rude  winds 
moan  through  the  crevices,  in  the  cold  and  dreary 
month  of  December.  One  only  companion  attends 
him — a  poor  but  faithful  Portuguese.  There,  in 
utter  destitution,   without  the   necessary  diet  or 


148  ST.    FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

proper  offices  of  care,  without  a  murmur,  rapt  in 
divine  contemplation  and  enjoying  the  anticipated 
vision  of  Jesus,  whose  name  he  bears — Xavier 
struggles  in  the  agonies  of  death.  Broken  pas- 
sages from  the  Psalms  occasionally  escape  from  his 
lips — then  they  essay  to  utter  the  humble  invoca- 
tion, "Jesus,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me  !" 
and  frequently,  too,  to  call  upon  the  intercession  of 
his  holy  mother  :  "  Mother  of  God,  remember  me  1"* 
To  his  heaving  heart,  clasped  in  his  cold  and  attenu- 
ated hands,  he  pressed  the  crucifix,  which  had  been 
his  inseparable  companion  in  all  his  journeyings 
and  missions,  and  persisting  in  fervent  prayer  to 
the  last  moment,  he  breathed  out  his  noble  spirit 
in  the  sweet  odor  of  sanctity,  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Bibiana,  the  second  of  December,  A.  D.  1552.")" 
The  following  day,  robed  in  the  sacerdotal  vest- 

*Lib.  xii.  n.  108,  109.  Nunc  e  psalmis  pium  aliquid 
suave  recinens,  et  eas  subinde  voces  suae  salutis  ingeminans : 
Jesu  fili  David,  miserere  mei,  Mater  Dei,  memento  mei. 

f  Ibid.  He  was  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his  age ;  ten 
years  after  his  departure  from  Europe.  "  During  his  resi- 
dence in  India,  he  had  maintained  a  frequent  correspondence 
with  Ignatius.  On  either  side,  their  letters  breathe  the  ten- 
derness which  is  an  indispensable  element  of  the  heroic  char 
acter — an  intense  though  grave  affection,  never  degenerating 
into  fondness;  but  chastened,  on  the  side  of  Xavier.  by  filial 


ST.    FRANCIS   XAVIER.  149 

ments,  the  venerable  body  was  placed  in  a  wooden 
coffin,  and  then  conveyed  to  the  grave  with  as 
much  ceremony  as  the  solitary  and  barbarous  land 
whereon  he  expired  would  allow.  Afterwards, 
just  before  the  mourners  began  to  throw  the  clod 
upon  the  mortal  remains,  it  was  thought  more  ex- 
pedient to  lay  the  body  in  an  open  coffin  covered 
with  live  lime,  in  order  that  the  flesh  might  be  con- 
reverence  ;  on  that  of  Ignatius,  by  parental  authority 

He  traversed  oceans,  islands,  and  continents,  through  a  track 
equal  to  more  than  twice  the  circumference  of  the  globe ; 
everywhere  preaching,  disputing,  baptizing,  and  founding 
Christian  churches.  There  is  at  least  one  well-authenticated 
miracle  in  Xavier's  story.  It  is,  that  any  mortal  man  should 
have  sustained  such  toils  as  he  did ;  and  have  sustained 
them,  too,  not  merely  with  composure,  but  as  if  in  obedience 
of  some  indestructible  exigency  of  his  nature."  Stephen, 
ubi  supr. 

Would  not  a  good  translation  into  English  of  Xavier's 
letters  be  an  invaluable  acquisition  to  sacred  literature,  the 
Society,  and  the  Church  ?  Would  it  not  afford  infinite  de- 
light to  the  pious  and  curious  reader,  to  muse  over  the  cor- 
respondence of  "  Xavier,  the  magnanimous,  the  holy,  and 
the  gay :  the  canonized  saint,  not  of  Rome  only,  but  of  uni- 
versal Christendom  ?"  These  are  the  terms  in  which  even 
the  cold  spirits  of  the  north  must  indulge,  when  warmed  by 
the  contemplation  of  that  primeval  ardor,  which  was  ani- 
mated and  directed  by  a  power  more  than  human.  The 
frozen  bigotry  of  Mr.  Stephen  melts  under  its  influence. 

13* 


150  ST.   FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

sumed,  and  the  bones  be  translated  into  India.  It 
was  done  :  and  two  large  rough  stones  were 
raised  nigh,  to  indicate  the  spot  to  which  the  sa- 
cred deposit  was  consigned.* 

Does  any  thing  remain  to  be  added  by  me  con- 
cerning the  character,  virtues,  and  sanctity  of  this 
man  of  God,  this  perfect  disciple  of  Ignatius,  this 
true  follower  of  Jesus,  and  one  of  the  greatest  of 
missionaries  since  the  days  of  the  apostles  ?  His 
mind  was  lofty  and  vast,  adorned  with  Christian 
greatness — that  greatness  which  is  founded  on  the 
humility  of  the  gospel— seeking  the  lowliest  place 
himself,  while,  for  God's  glory,  undertaking  the 
most  arduous  and  magnificent  projects,  relying  not 
on  his  own  energies,  but  on  the  Divine  aid.  In 
the  accomplishment  of  these,  he  reckoned  as 
naught,  labors,  injuries,  vigils,  hunger,  thirst, 
fatigue.  In  a  word,  if  it  be  true  that  by  its  fruits 
the  tree  will  be  known,  the  Catholic  Church  and 
the  Society  of  Jesus  can  point  to  Xavier,  in  whom 
the  virtues  of  the  former  and  the  spirit  of  the  latter 
were  purely  and  thoroughly  exemplified  and  car- 
ried out.     And,  with  such  a  glorious  model  of  both, 

*  Ibid.  n.  112.  With  what  solemn  rejoicings  and  cele. 
brations  the  precious  remains  of  the  apostle  were  received  at 
Goa,  will  be  found,  lib.  xiii.  n.  89. 


ST.   FBANCIS  XAVIEE.  151 

the   calumnies  and  misrepresentations  of  one  and 
the  other  must  be  shamed  into  eternal  silence.* 

*  There  is  extant  a  hymn  composed  by  St.  Francis  Xa- 
vier,  which  contains,  as  it  were,  the  embodiment  of  all  his 
lofty  and  heavenly  aspirations ;  in  which  he  breathes  forth 
his  inspired  strain  of  Divine  love,  and  perfect  detachment 
of  heart  from  all  the  vanities  and  pleasures  of  this  life.  The 
following  translation,  by  an  anonymous  writer,  is  faithful, 
and  not  inelegant : 

"  My  God !  thou  art  the  object  of  my  love  ; 
Not  for  the  hope  of  endless  joys  above, 
Nor  for  the  fear  of  endless  pains  below 
Which  those  who  love  thee  not  must  undergo : 
For  me,  and  such  as  I,  thou  once  didst  bear 
The  ignominious  cross,  the  nails,  the  spear. 
A  thorny  crown  transpierced  thy  sacred  brows ; 
What  bloody  sweat  from  every  member  flows  1 
For  me,  in  tortures  thou  didst  yield  thy  breath ; 
Nailed  to  the  cross,  thou  savedst  me  from  death. 
Say — can  such  sufferings  fail  my  heart  to  move? 
What,  but  thyself,  can  now  deserve  my  love  ? 
Such  as  then  was  and  is  thy  love  for  me, 
Such  is,  and  shall  be  still,  my  love  for  thee. 
That  love,  0  Jesus,  may  I  ever  sing, 
O  God  of  love,  kind  Parent,  dearest  King." 


JAMES  LAYNEZ. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

Jakes  Laynez. — Unites  himself  to  Ignatius.  Enters  Ecme  barefoot 
Teaches  in  the  Eounan  Academy.  Is  sent  to  Parma.  His  labors  at 
Venice;  at  Brescia;  at  Padua;  at  Bassano;  at  Borne.  Refuses  the 
purple.  Is  sent  to  the  Council  of  Trent  His  zeal  at  Bologna ;  Florence  ; 
Perugio;  Monte  Pulciano ;  Sienna;  Venice;  Naples.  Is  sent  to  Sicily. 
Accompanies  Vega  to  Africa.  His  labors.  Is  called  to  Pisa.  Is  again 
sent  as  theologian  of  the  Pope,  to  the  Council  of  Trent  Is  made  Pro- 
vincial of  Italy.  Preaches  at  Genoa.  "Writes  a  compendium  of  theology 
for  the  use  of  the  schools  of  the  Society.  Is  sent  back  to  Germany  to 
the  Diet  of  Augsburg.  Returns  to  Italy.  Rejects  the  Cardinal's  hat 
His  great  merits,  talents,  and  actions. 

While  Ignatius  was  pursuing  his  studies  at  Paris, 
there  arrived  in  that  metropolis  a  young  gen- 
tleman, a  native  of  Almazan  in  Spain.  He  was 
in  the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age,  the  cherished 
child  of  parents  distinguished  not  less  by  wealth 
than  piety,  by  whom  he  had  been  trained  to  the 
study  of  wisdom  and  the  ardent  love  of  religion. 
Already  had  he  obtained  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts   in   the  university  of  Compostella,  where   he 


156  JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

had  endeared  himself  to  all  the  inmates  by  the 
suavity  of  his  manners,  and  the  excellence  of  his 
talents :  and  as  he  destined  himself  to  the  Church, 
he  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  theology  in 
the  most  celebrated  school  in  France.  This  was 
James  Laynez.*  One  of  the  principal  causes  that 
directed  his  course  to  Paris,  was  to  become  ac- 
quainted with  Ignatius,  of  whose  admirable  fame 
he  had  heard  in  his  native  country.  By  accident 
it  happened, — or  rather  by  the  disposal  of  Provi- 
dence,— that  he  took  up  his  lodgings  in  the  very 
house  where  Ignatius  dwelt,  in  that  city.  Imme- 
diately he  communicated  to  that  wonderful  man 
the  object  which  had  led  him  thither,  and  a  strong 
and  mutual  friendship  seemed  to  bind  their  hearts 
together  instinctively,  upon  the  spot.  He  placed 
himself  under  the  guidance  and  government  of 
Ignatius,  and,  after  some  days  of  prayer  and  re- 
tirement, easily  consented  to  become  his  disciple 
with  Faber  and  Francis  Xavier. 

The  first  destination  of  Laynez  was  Rome. 
Quitting  Paris,  under  the  direction  of  obedience, 
he  departed  as  a  penitent,  clad  in  sackcloth,  for 
the  capital  of  the  Christian  world.  Though  suffer- 
ing under  no  trifling  illness  at  the  time,  he  seemed 

*  Orlandin.  lib.  i.  n.  87. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  157 

to  forget  his  debility  and  pains,  in  the  anticipation 
of  treading  upon  that  sacred  soil,  venerable  for  the 
graves  of  innumerable  saints,  hallowed  by  the  blood 
of  myriads  of  martyrs.  On  entering  the  gates, 
he  made  his  way  directly,  barefoot,  to  the  tomb 
of  the  apostles,  where  he  prostrated  himself  in  fer- 
vent prayer,  and  dedicated  his  whole  being  to  the 
service  of  the  Church  which  was  built  on  the  rock 
of  Peter.  It  was  to  defend  that  Church  against  the 
powers  of  darkness — the  schisms  and  heresies  of 
the  times — that  the  Society  sprang  into  being  :  and 
whither  could  her  earliest  members  go  to  imbibe 
deep  draughts  of  the  spirit  of  truth  and  zeal,  but 
to  the  fountain-source  ?  The  memories  of  the  an- 
cient dead  who  slept  in  their  venerated  tombs 
within  the  walls  of  Rome,  came  up,  with  all  their 
influences,  before  the  contemplation  of  Laynez,  and 
inspired  his  generous  soul  with  a  nameless  enthusi- 
asm in  the  cause  of  the  Catholic  Church.  At  first 
he  lodged  in  the  hospital  of  his  countrymen  ;  but 
was,  afterwards,  persuaded  by  some  wealthy  and 
noble  Spaniards  to  accept  of  a  more  becoming  hos- 
pitality under  their  roof.* 

*  "  Negantes,"  writes  the  historian,  "  suae  dignitatis  na- 
tionisque  comittere,  ut  tales  tantique  viri  tota  urbe  precario 
cibum  quotidie  quaeritent."    Idem.  lib.  ii.  n.  8.    In  this  cir 

14 


158  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

The  original  design  of  the  first  disciples  of  Igna- 
tius was  to  perform  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem, 
and,  like  the  pious  Palmers  of  olden  days,  to  kneel 
before  the  sepulchre  of  their  Lord  in  devout  and 
penitential  meditation.  Before  setting  out  on  this 
long  and  perilous  journey,  Laynez  presented  him- 
self to  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Paul  III.,  and  im- 
plored his  benediction.  "  It  affords  me  infinite 
pleasure/'  the  Pontiff  said,  "  to  see  united  in  your 
person  so  much  learning  and  so  great  humility,  and 
if  you  have  any  favor  to  ask,  I  shall  willingly 
concede  it."*  To  this  gracious  speech,  Laynez 
calmly  replied  :  "  Holy  Father,  I  crave  your  bene- 
diction, and  the  privilege  of  visiting  Jerusalem." 
The  Pontiff  immediately  assented,  but  added  :  "I  do 
not  think  you  will  ever  start  for  the  Holy  Land."f 
Whether  he  made  this  assertion  because  be  was 
aware  that  the  Venetians  were  about  turning  their 
arms  against  the  Turks,  or  whether  by  Divine  in- 
spiration, it  is  not  my  province  to  determine.     He, 

cumstance,  we  see  with  what  a  spirit  of  poverty  and  liumil 
ity  the  Society  began.  Its  most  eminent  and  distinguished 
men  were  always,  at  least  in  its  early  period,  (no  matter 
how  its  enemies  may  misrepresent  its  after-character,)  the 
purest  examples  of  both  these  virtues. 

*  Id.  n.  10. 

i  Id.  ibid. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  159 

however,  afforded  Laynez  and  his  companions  every 
facility,  and,  of  his  own  accord,  supplied  them  with 
money,  which,  added  to  that  bestowed  by  the  liber- 
ality of  the  Spanish  people,  amounted  to  more  than 
two  hundred  golden  florins.  This  sum  Laynez  ex- 
pended in  making  a  votive  pilgrimage  to  Venice, 
living,  while  at  Rome,  upon  charity  collected  from 
door  to  door,  not  without  the  admiration  of  those 
who  had  been  present  at  his  learned  disputations. 
Shortly  after  he  returned  to  Venice  in  poverty, 
where  he  was  received  with  paternal  affection  by 
Ignatius,  and  spent  his  time  in  the  hospital  to  the 
great  advantage  of  the  inmates,  and  the  edification 
of  the  city.*  Here  he  was  promoted  to  holy  orders, 
on  the  festival  of  St.  John  the  Baptist,  and  looked 
anxiously  for  an  opportunity  to  sail  to  Palestine. 
No  such  opportunity  presented  itself :  for,  since 
the  war  that  had  broken  out  between  the  Republic 
and  the  Turks,  all  intercourse  between  the  two 
countries  had  been  suspended.  This  was  an  event 
worthy  to  be  remarked — as  a  clear  manifestation 
of  the  will  of  Heaven,  that  the  meditated  pilgrim- 
age should,  from  necessity,  be  set  aside,  and  Laynez 
should,  thereby,  be  liberated  from  his  vow.  He 
did  not,  however,  leave  Venice,  but  spent  the  re- 

*  Id.  n.  12. 


160  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

mainder  of  that  year  in  devoting  his  services  to 
the  hospitals,  and  performing  other  good  and 
heroic  deeds.  After  that  period,  he  was  sent  in 
company  with  Faber  to  Vicentra,  with  the  under- 
standing, that  if  there  should  be  an  opening  into1 
Palestine,  he  should  forthwith  retrace  his  steps 
to  Venice.* 

Meanwhile,  he  was  appointed  to  one  of  the  chairs 
in  the  Roman  University,  which  he  filled  with  mag- 
nificent eclat.  Thence  he  was  sent  to  Parma, 
where  he  taught  in  the  schools,  delivered  lectures 
explanatory  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  preached 
with  extraordinary  success  to  the  people,  among 
whom — as  well  as  among  the  nobility — he  wrought 
a  general  and  manifest  change  of  morals.  From 
that  city,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Republic  itself, 
he  was  again  sent  to  Venice  by  the  express  com- 
mand of  the  Pope.J  His  exertions  in  that  great 
capital  did  not  prevent  him  from  extending  his  in- 
fluence and  zeal  to  other  places.  Under  his  au- 
spices the  College  of  Padua  was  founded,  to  obviate 

*  Id.  n.  14.  All  tlie  other  Fathers  were  distributed  through- 
out different  places  by  Ignatius,  with  the  same  understand- 
ing. See  their  destinations  in  Orlandinus,  vhi  supr.  Their 
dispersion  among  the  cities  resembles  that  of  the  apostles 
through  the  whole  world. 

f  Lib.  iii.  n.  55. 


JAMES   LAYNEZ.  161 

the  errors  which  had  begun  to  be  spread  through- 
out that  city  by  the  industry  of  depraved  men. 
The  evil  was  the  more  formidable,  as  the  fautors 
and  leaders  of  it  were  "  wolves  in  sheep's  cloth- 
ing."* To  check  the  growing  calamity,  Laynez 
incessantly  vindicated  in  his  public  discourses  and 
harangues,  the  cause  of  religion,  to  which  an  im- 
mense concourse  of  citizens  were  attracted  by  his 
eloquence  and  erudition.  His  explanation  of  the 
Gospel  of  St.  John,  which  formed  a  series  of  con- 
ferences, he  delivered  in  the  church  of  the  "  Holy 
Saviour;"  and  it  is  not  easy  to  imagine  the  infi- 
nite good  they  effected  in  suppressing  error  and 
confirming  truth.  So  universally  were  they  ad- 
mired, that  he  was  requested,  by  the  most  illus- 
trious and  learned  citizens,  to  continue  them  thrice 
a  week.  He  consented  :  and  such  was  the  per- 
suasive and  convincing  character  of  his  oratory, 
that  he  rescued  many  from  the  fatal  errors  with 
which  they  began  to  be  imbued,  and  induced  others 
to  abandon  their  evil  ways  and  devote  themselves 
to  the  practice  of  virtue  and  acts  of  charity.  By 
his  means,  the  hospitals,  which  had  been  left  ne- 
glected and  badly  supported,  were  sustained  and 
endowed  anew  by  the  ample  contributions  of  the 

*  Id.  Ibid. 
U* 


162  JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

faithful ;  and,  in  a  word,  awakened  by  the  zeal  of 
the  spiritual  exercises,  piety,  which  had  long  lan- 
guished and  decayed,  again  began  to  revive  and 
nourish  amidst  the  gratulations  of  all  orders  of  the 
republic* 

Encouraged  by  the  fruits  of  his  labors  at  Pa- 
dua   and  Venice,  Laynez   next  betook  himself  to 
Brescia.     Here,  although  he  devoted  his  attention 
to  the  hospitals  and  monasteries,  as  also  to  the 
instructing  of  children  and  the  ignorant  in  the  cate- 
chism— an  exercise  far  more  useful  than  ostenta- 
tious— nevertheless  he  commenced  on  Quinquages- 
ima  Sunday,  in  the  cathedral,  a  course  of  sermons, 
which  he  continued,  always  attended  by  a  numerous 
audience,  every  day  during  the  season  of  Lent :  be- 
sides which,  he  preached  thrice  a  week  in  the  other 
churches,  and  heard  innumerable  confessions.    Nor 
did  his  efforts  cease  with  the  Lent.     Urged  by  the 
bishop,  he  consented  to  explain  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures on  three  days  in  the  week,  and  likewise  to 
preach  to  the  nuns  in  three  monasteries.     The  char- 
acter of  this  city  was  soon  changed  for  the  better  : 
certain  heterodoxical  opinions,  which  for  some  pre- 


*  Idem,  n.  56.  Qua  in  re  adeo  eloquens  Lainii  pietas  fuit, 
ut  mille  amplius  ipsis  ex  auditoribus  affinnarent  paratos  se 
pro  veritate  Catholica  jugulum  ac  cervices  offerre. 


JAMES   LAYKEZ.  163 

ceding  years  had  glided  into  the  minds  of  thou- 
sands, were  entirely  eradicated  :  and  so  deeply  did 
the  eloquence  of  Laynez  impress  the  doctrines  of 
truth  in  their  stead,  that  numbers  were  heard  to 
declare  that,  should  it  be  necessary,  they  would  not 
hesitate  to  lay  down   their  lives    for    the   faith.* 
Challenged  to  a  public  disputation  by  a  nobleman 
who  denied  the  existence  of  purgatory,  he  argued 
with  such  power  upon  that  article  of  the  ancient 
faith,  that  the  individual  who  had  the  temerity  to 
enter  the  lists  with  him,  was  not  only  silenced,  but 
acknowledged  his   defeat.      This  triumph  induced 
several  others  who  were  tainted  with  the  Lutheran 
heresies,  to  abjure  them  and  adhere  most  firmly  to 
the  doctrines  of  their  forefathers.     The  majesty  of 
divine  worship  was  renewed,  piety  resumed  its  an- 
cient sway  over  the  public  morals,  and  the  practices 
of  religion  reflourished.f     So   great   and   unusual 
was  the  change   effected,  that   in  a  few  months 
Brescia  could  hardly  recognize  herself. 

Nor  was  he  less  successful  at  Bassano,  a  city 
which,  from  its  contiguity  with  Germany,  was  fear- 
fully exposed  to  the  contagion  of  the  errors  that  had 
spread  over  that  fated  country.  By  his  assiduous 
exhortations,  and  solid  discussions,  he  so  strength- 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  79.  t  Id-  »•  79. 


16  Jr  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

ened  the  minds  of  the  citizens  against  them,  that 
they  persevered,  after  his  absence,  in  maintaining 
the  Catholic  faith.  He  divided  his  labors  with 
his  companions  in  such  a  manner,  that  every 
morning  and  afternoon  a  discourse  was  delivered 
in  the  church  of  St.  Lawrence  in  Damaso,  to  a 
noble  and  approving  audience.  His  reputation 
for  learning  and  sanctity  daily  and  justly  increased: 
and  so  enthusiastic  was  the  public  admiration  in 
his  regard,  that  wreaths  and  flowers  were  often 
scattered  on  his  person  while  he  announced  and 
defended  the  word  of  God*  The  dignity  of  bishop 
was  offered  him  ;  but  he  rejected  it,  in  conformity 
with  the  spirit  of  his  order,  and  still  more  from  a 
spirit  of  personal  humility. 

Meanwhile  the  dispute  between  the  King  of 
France  and  the  Emperor  of  Germany  having  been 
adjusted,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  turned  his  attention 
to  the  General  Council  of  Trent,  which  had  been 
interrupted  during  the  space  of  three  years.  As 
his  legates,  he  deputed  the  Cardinals,  John  Maria 
de  Monte,  Marcellus  Ceruinus,  and  Reginald 
Pole.f     These    were    followed    by  a  hundred  and 


*  Lib.  v.  n.  16. 

f  One  of  the  most  classic  and  finest  histories  in  the  En- 
glish language,  is  the  life  of  Cardinal  Pole,  by  Canon  Phil 


JAMES  LAYKEZ.  165 

more  Bishops  from  Italy,  and  a  large  number  from 
Spain,  Portugal,  and  France  ;  besides  representa- 
tives of  all  Catholic  princes,  and  the  most  learned 
theologians,  secular  and  religious.  To  the  apos- 
tolic legates  were  added  two  divines,  selected  from 
a  society  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Holy  See, 
and  the  defence  of  the  Catholic  Church  against 
the  assaults  of  heresy.  These  were  Laynez  and 
Salmeron,  men  of  profound  erudition  and  well 
tried  virtue.     The  former  was  in  his  thirty-fourth, 

ips.  In  point  of  style,  felicitous  and  beautiful  narrative, 
accuracy,  and  eloquence — all  combined,  or  each  in  particu- 
lar— it  will  dispute  the  palm  with  Roscoe's  Leo  X.  Why 
does  not  some  enterprising  Catholic  publisher  give  us  an 
American  edition  ?  The  account  which  the  author  presents 
of  the  Council  of  Trent,  is  by  far  the  best  and  most  detailed 
in  our  language. 

"He  was,"  writes  Dr.  Lingard,  "the  son  of  Richard 
Pole,  a  Welsh  knight,  and  of  Margaret,  Countess  of  Salis- 
bury ;  and  a  kinsman  of  Henry  VIH.,  who  had  taken  on 
himself  the  charge  of  his  education."  He  could  not  assent 
to  the  divorce  of  the  king  :  Lord  Montague  waited  on  Henry 
to  deplore  the  infatuation  of  his  relative.  "  I  love  him  in 
spite  of  his  obstinacy,"  was  Henry's  reply  :  "  and  were  he  but 
of  my  opinion,  I  would  love  him  better  than  any  man  in 
the  kingdom."  Such  was  the  Pope's  legate  to  the  Council 
of  Trent,  and  with  whom  Laynez  was  so  intimately  asso- 
ciated.   Hist,  of  England,  vol.  vi.  chap.  iv.  p.  223.  PhUad 


166  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

and  the  latter  in  his  thirty-first  year.  Ignatius,  in 
consideration  of  the  jealousy  which  this  extraordina- 
ry honor  might  excite  against  his  infant  Institute, 
and,  likewise,  of  the  youth  of  the  individuals  select- 
ed for  the  high  station,  used  every  effort  to  free 
them  from  it.  But,  finding  it  in  vain  to  contend 
against  the  fixed  determination  of  the  Pontiff,  he 
drew  up  for  their  direction  certain  admonitions, 
which  I  cannot  refrain  from  abridging  for  the  edi- 
fication of  the  Reader.* 

"  In  discharging  the  duties  alloted  to  your  care, 
there  are  things  which  I  desire  you  particularly  to 
observe.  First,  in  the  Council,  seek  only  for  the 
greater  glory  of  God,  and  the  common  good  of  the 
Church.  Secondly,  when  not  engaged  in  the 
Council,  continue  your  customary  functions  among 
the  people.  Finally,  at  home  do  not  neglect  your 
private  duties  and  devotions  ;  but,  by  your  diligent 
and  assiduous  practices  of  piety,  take  care  to  ren- 
der yourselves  better  fitted  for  the  arduous  task 
that  is  devolved  upon  you. 

"  In  the  business  of  the  Council,  it  will  become 
you  to  be  slow  in  speaking,  and  very  considerate 
and  benevolent  in  giving  your  opinions.  In  listen- 
ing, be  attentive  and  sedate,  and  see  clearly  the 

*  Lib.  v.  24, 25,  26. 


JAMES   LAYNEZ.  167 

mind  and  drift  of  those  who  are  speaking  ;  in 
order  the  more  easily  to  reply  directly,  if  needs  be, 
or  silently  to  assent.  In  the  disputations  that  oc- 
cur, wait  for  the  arguments  to  be  adduced  on  each 
side  before  you  form  a  judgment  of  your  own, 
always  studying  to  be  impartial  and  just  in  your 
decisions.  If  it  be  necessary  for  you  to  express 
your  opinions,  you  will  do  it  modestly  and  calmly, 
never  omitting  the  clause  :  to  the  best  of  my  judg- 
ment* 

"  Out  of  the  Council,  let  no  opportunity  pass  of 
doing  good  to  your  neighbors  ;  by  hearing  con- 
fessions, preaching  to  the  people,  exciting  them 
to  fervor  and  prayer,  instructing  children,  and 
visiting  hospitals.  In  your  sermons,  never  touch 
on  any  point  controverted  between  Catholics  and 
Protestants  :  but,  labor  to  reform  the  public 
morals,  and  enforce  obedience  to  the  Church. 
In  explaining  the  catechism  to  children,  accommo- 
date your  style  to  their  comprehension  and  under- 
standing ;  and  conclude  with  a  brief  prayer  for 
the  prosperity  and  happy  termination  of  the 
synod. 

"  As  regards  your  own  conduct,  you  will  set 
aside  an  hour  at  night  for  the  purpose  of  examin- 

*  Ibid. 


168  JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

ing  your  actions  of  the  day,  and  conferring  on  the 
affairs  which  will  occupy  your  attention  on  the 
next :  this  you  will  do  by  private  deliberations. 
And  the  more  firmly  to  bind  yourselves  together, 
by  humility  and  mutual  charity,  you  will  advise, 
freely  reprehend,  and,  if  necessary,  even  correct, 
one  another."* 

Guided  by  the  wisdom  that  breathed  through  this 
masterly  admonition,  Laynez  proceeded  to  the  Coun- 
cil, where  he  was  affectionately  received,  with  Sal- 
meron,  by  the  Cardinal  legates,  who  offered  them  a 
princely  hospitality.  But,  acting  in  conformity  with 
the  proper  spirit  of  their  Institute,  they  preferred 
an  humble  residence  which  had  been  prepared  for 
them  near  the  church  of  St.  Elizabeth. f  The  fifth 
session  had  been  convoked  for  the  seventh  of  June, 
1546. J     Before  taking  his  seat,  Laynez  devoted  his 


*  Id.  n.  26.  f  Lib.  vi.  n.  21. 

%  The  Council  opened  the  year  previous,  convoked  by  the 
authority  of  Pope  Paul  III. ;  and  with  some  interruptions, 
continued  until  1563,  when  it  was  brought  to  a  happy  ter 
ruination  under  Pius  IV.  It  consequently  occupied  the  long 
space  of  eighteen  years.  Twenty-five  sessions  were  held, 
at  which  the  Pope's  legates  duly  presided  ;  a  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  canons  were  issued. 

Of  this  famous  Council,  a  false  and  ridiculous  history  was 
composed  by  Fra  Paolo  Sarpi,  which  is  solidly  and  learnedly 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  169 

time  to  the  duties  of  the  hospital,  teaching  the 
Christian  doctrine,  and  other  works  of  charity,  by 
which  he,  at  once,  gained  the  affection,  and  confi- 
dence, and  veneration  of  all. 

In  the  august  assemblage  of  dignitaries  and  le- 
gates, he  made  his  appearance  clad  in  an  humble 
and  worn-out  habit,  in  such  a  manner,  that  he 
was  regarded,  at  first,  as  an  object  of  contempt, 
and  of  especial  disgust  to  the  Spanish  prelates. 
But  it  was  not  long  ere  the  fact  was  made  evident, 
that  the  most  splendid  talents,  profound  erudition, 
and  admirable  eloquence,  were  hidden  under  the 
garb  of  poverty.*  Unbounded  confidence  was 
placed  in  his  opinions,  which  he  sustained  with 
such  a  depth  of  learning,  and  accuracy  and  perspi- 
cuity of  language,  that  in  all  disputed  points  his 
sentiments  were  the  first  to  be  heard  by  the  Fathers, 
before  entering  promiscuously  upon  the  debate.f 
The  most  weighty  responsibilities,  were  laid  on 
him  ;  as  was  evinced  by  the  circumstance  of  the 


confuted  in  an  authentic  one,  compiled  by  Cardinal  Palavi- 
cini,  formerly  a  Jesuit,  from  the  original  acts,  preserved  in 
the  Vatican. 

*  Id.  n.  23.    "  Turn  demum  intellectum  est  sapientiam 
Interdum  sordido  latere  sub  pallio." 

f  Id.  n.  25. 

15 


170  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

task  of  drawing  up  the  decree  on  justification  hav- 
ing been  committed  to  his  prudence  and  that  of 
his  companions.*  A  compendium  of  all  the  Lu- 
theran errors — a  work  of  immense  labor  and  deli- 
cacy— likewise  emanated  from  their  hands,  for  the 
use  of  the  Council. 

During  the  recesses  of  the  Synod,  Laynez 
returned  to  the  customary  offices  of  zeal :  he 
preached,  catechized,  visited  the  sick,  attended  in 
the  confessional,  and  labored  for  the  aid  and  so- 
lace of  the  poor  and  wretched.  Considering  the 
assiduous  attention  which  the  affairs  of  the  Council 
required,  it  is  difficult  to  realize  the  amount  of 
usefulness  and  solicitude  which  he  accomplished 
among  the  faithful,  as  it  were  by  snatches.  For 
the  duties  of  the  Council  were  incessant  and  ab- 
sorbing. Each  day  two  meetings  were  held  :  that 
of  the  morning  treated  of  the  reformation  of  mor- 
als ;  that  of  the  evening,  of  the  dogmas  of  faith. 
One  hour  was  allotted  to  each  speaker  :  Laynez, 
as  he  states  in  a  letter  to  Canisius,  was  heard 
three  hours  at  a  time,  f  And  to  his  industry  was 
assigned  the  task  of  selecting  from  the  Councils 
and  Fathers  of  the  Church,  and  from  the  decrees 
of  the  Popes,  monuments  and  proofs  condemnatory 

*  Id.  n.  27.  f  Lib.  vii.  n.  23. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  171 

of  the  various  errors  of  the  Reformers.  And, 
nevertheless,  from  these  momentous  studies  and 
investigations,  he  passed  with  incredible  facility 
and  celerity  to  the  practical  avocations  of  the 
pulpit  and  the  confessional. 

In  the  eighth  session,  held  in  March,  1547,  it 
was  determined,  on  account  of  the  inclemency  of 
the  climate,  and  for  other  causes,  to  transfer  the 
Council  to  Bologna.*  Thither  Laynez  repaired, 
with  the  legates  and  Salmeron.  The  question  now 
to  be  agitated  and  decided  was  De  Penitentia,  (on 
Penance.)  In  this  weighty  and  abstruse  dogma, 
his  attention  was  entirely  wrapt :  during  three 
successive  hours,  he  delivered  his  sentiments  on  it, 
which  were  heard  with  intense  attention  by  the 
Fathers,  who  assigned  to  him  the  development, 
likewise,  of  the  other  sacraments.f 

The  hours  of  interstice  which  were  snatched 
from  these  accumulated  and  onerous  occupations, 
he  devoted  to  the  instruction  of  the  people  and  the 
attendance  in  the  confessional. 

With  the  approbation  of  the  legates,  he  obtained 
permission  to  visit  Perrugio  :  where,  as  he  never 
failed  to  do,  he  first  paid  his  respects  to  the  bishop 
and    leading   personages,    and   afterwards   betook 

*  Id.  n.  24.  t  Id.  ibid. 


172  JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

himself  to  the  poorhouse,  in  which  he  lodged.* 
Multitudes  of  the  citizens  rushed  to  his  discourses. 
Conversions  were  numberless  :  and  in  such  general 
veneration  was  he  held,  and  such  wonderful  fruit 
did  his  labors  produce,  that  he  was  entreated  to 
remain  during  the  season  of  Advent  in  that  city. 
But  he  had  promised  to  spend  that  time  at  Flor- 
ence. In  return  for  his  usefulness  in  Perrugio,  the 
Archbishop  of  Milan  addressed  two  letters,  one  to 
Ignatius,  the  other  to  Laynez  himself,  breathing 
the  most  grateful  sentiments,  and  hoping  to  see 
the  good  work,  begun  so  auspiciously,  rendered 
durable  by  some  permanent  foundation  of  the  So- 
ciety. 

On  his  route  to  Florence,  Laynez  was  invited  by 
the  Bishop  of  Eugubio  to  tarry  some  time  in  that 
city  :  thence  he  continued  to  Monte  Pulciano, 
where  he  preached  to  the  faithful  three  days  in 
succession.  At  Florence,  his  exertions  in  the  pul- 
pit and  the  tribunal  of  Confession,  knew  no  bounds. 
Wonderful  was  the  result.  The  field  of  his  zeal 
was   covered  with  fruit.      Morals  were  reformed, 

*  Id.  n.  28.  "  Pauperum  ad  hospitium  suo  more  divertit," 
writes  Orlandinus.  What  a  grand  spectacle,  to  contemplate 
the  light  and  ornament  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  passing  from 
the  admiring  view  of  that  august  body,  into  the  abode  and 
communion  of  the  poor  and  humble ! 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  173 

alms-deeds  were  practised  to  an  unprecedented 
amount ;  and  penitents,  as  well  among  the  mili- 
tary as  the  citizens,  nocked  to  the  sacred  tribunal. 
With  the  spirit  of  Christian  virtue,  he  aroused  alsc 
that  of  letters.  He  was  a  pattern  of  both  :  and  in 
order  to  unite  both  in  an  indissoluble  connection, 
the  Florentines  proposed  the  immediate  erection 
of  a  college.  He  was  offered  the  choice  of  six  or 
seven  sites  in  the  city.  Of  none  of  them  did  Lay- 
nez  deem  it  expedient  to  accept.  Still  the  city 
persisted  in  the  determination  to  found  such  an 
establishment.  They  urged  the  duke  to  place  it 
in  his  dominions  ;  and  obtained  a  promise  that  in 
a  short  time  it  should  be  commenced  at  Pisa.*  He 
preached  the  Lent,  in  the  great  cathedral,  begin- 
ning from  Septuagesima,  to  more  than  eight  thou- 
sand auditors.f  At  the  end  of  the  season,  regretted 
by  all  whom  he  left  behind,  he  quitted  Florence, 
and  repaired  again  to  Venice  ;  whence,  after  hav- 
ing fortunately  brought  to  a  termination  a  trying 
question  relating  to  the  college  of  Padua,  he  was 


*  Id.  n.  30. 

f  One  of  Ms  sermons,  "On  the  Tears  of  Magdalen,"  de 
livered,  according  to  an  immemorial  nsage,  to  dissolute 
women,  converted  many  of  them.  For  the  particulars,  see 
lib.  viii.  n.  18. 

15* 


174  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

called  to  Rome.*  But  a  short  time  was  given  him 
to  repose  amid  the  venerable  retreats  of  the  Holy 
City.  He  was  ordered  to  Sicily,  at  the  request  of 
Cardinal  Alexander  Farnesius,  and  Vega,  the  gov- 
ernor of  that  island.  On  his  way,  he  was  detained 
at  Naples  over  the  space  of  a  month,  during  which 
he  never  ceased  from  preaching,  and  exhorting,  and 
instructing  ;  whilst  he  had  the  opportunity  of  en- 
joying in  the  quiet  monastery  of  Benedictine  monks, 
where  he  made  his  abode,  much  solitary  repose. 
By  the  viceroy  he  was  most  humanely  received. 
And  so  great  was  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people  to 
hear  his  sacred  eloquence,  that  it  became  necessary 
for  him  to  address  them  twice,  and  often  thrice,  on 
the  same  day.  In  the  chapel  of  the  convent,  he 
entered  upon  an  explanation  of  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  was  always  ready  to  receive  and  ad- 
vise numbers  who  nocked  to  consult  with  him  in 
their  doubts  and  difficulties,  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral. 

In  February,  1549,  he  arrived  in  Sicily,  and,  at 
Palermo,  was  greeted  with  every  token  of  welcome 
and  kindness  by  the  viceroy,  Vega,  and  the  no- 
bility.f  He  was  invited  to  preach  the  Lent  in  a 
church  near  the  palace,  which  was  thronged  with 

*  Id.  n.  20,  21,  22.  f  *&>•  &•  n.  23. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  175 

a  distinguished  and  numerous  audience.  In  the 
midst  of  these  labors,  he  was  suddenly  prostrated 
by  illness,  and  was  removed  from  the  turmoil  of 
the  capital  to  the  calmer  retreats  of  Mon-Reale. 
No  sooner  had  he  recovered  his  strength,  than  he 
hastened  back  to  the  arena  of  his  zeal,  and  re- 
sumed his  sermons  with  unequalled  eloquence,  and 
unprecedented  effect.* 

The  anxious  yearnings  of  these  holy  disciples  of 
Ignatius  were  not  bounded  by  any  quarter  of  the 
globe.  Xavier  had  passed  returnless  seas,  and 
enkindled  the  light  of  the  gospel  in  the  interior  of 
Asia.  Laynez  is  now  chosen  to  do  the  same  in 
the  gloomy  and  barbarous  regions  of  Africa. 
Vega,  who  was  intrusted  with  an  expedition  into 
that  country  which  lies  opposite  to  Sicily,  prevailed 
on  Ignatius  to  permit  Laynez  to  accompany  him. 
This  expedition  was  ordered  by  Charles  V.,  in 
consequence  of  the  irruptions  which  were  made  by 
the  pirate  Dracutus,  who  had  infested  the  maritime 
coasts  of  Italy  and  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  ;  and 
the  command  of  this  was  assigned  to  the  viceroy 
himself.  They  departed  not  only  with  a  strong 
Sicilian  fleet,  but  aided  also  by  the  Pontifical,  Flo- 
rentine, and    Maltese  ;    and   reached,  after  a  fa- 

*  Ibid. 


176  JAMES    LAYNEZ. 

vorable  sail,  the  island  of  JEgates,  anciently  re- 
nowned for  the  slaughter  of  the  Carthaginians, 
and  recently  styled  Fauagnana.  Four  days  later, 
they  landed  on  the  continent  of  Africa,  and  selected 
a  place  for  their  encampment.  Laynez,  meanwhile, 
diligently  occupied  himself  in  constructing  a  hos- 
pital for  the  soldiers,  who  soon  began  to  sink 
under  these  torrid  heats  and  insalubrious  skies. 
He,  with  his  own  hands,  prepared  and  adminis- 
tered their  medicines,  washed  their  linen,  tendered 
their  diet,  watched,  frequently  the  entire  night, 
over  their  beds,  heard  their  confessions,  offered 
up  the  Divine  Sacrifice  daily,  exhorted  them  to 
patience,  resignation,  contrition,  prepared  them 
for  death,  and  consigned  their  bodies  to  the  earth. 
In  such  numbers  were  they  carried  off  by  the 
plague,  that  two  or  three  hundred  lay  heaped  to- 
gether, which,  regardless  of  the  loathsome  and 
pestilential  atmosphere,  he  strove  to  cover  with 
the  sod,  and  compose  with  decency  and  religious 
care.*  For  the  success  of  this  expedition,  Ignatius 
ordered  the  holy  mysteries  of  the  altar  to  be  cele- 
brated by  all  the  Society  :  and  the  Sovereign  Pon- 
tiff, moreover,  imparted  the  blessings  of  a  jubilee 
to  all  the   troops    engaged  in  it.       These  joyous 

*  lib.  x.  n.  88,  89,  90,  91,  93. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  177 

tidings  were  announced  to  the  camp  with  the  sound 
of  the  trumpet,  and  Laynez  exhorted  all  to  profit 
by  the  favor,  especially  as  their  lives  were  ex- 
posed to  the  twofold  danger  of  the  climate  and  the 
enemy.  The  rush  to  the  holy  tribunal  was  im- 
mense :  whole  nights  were  spent  in  the  confes- 
sional, and  the  army  presented  the  appearance  of 
one  great  school  of  virtue  and  self-victory.  Their 
souls  being  thus  purified  and  strengthened,  their 
valor  necessarily  became  intrepid  and  fearless, 
sustained,  as  it  seemed  to  be,  by  the  propitious 
favor  of  Heaven.*  They  laid  siege  to  and  cap- 
tured the  city  on  the  tenth  of  September  ;  and 
four  days  after — the  festival  of  the  Exaltation  of 
the  Cross — the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  was  cele- 
brated in  one  of  the  mosques  of  the  Mahomed- 
ans,  which  had  been  duly  dedicated  to  the  true 
God,  under  the  patronage  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  ; 
and  some  Moors  were  solemnly  baptized.f  The 
victorious  troops  embarked,  and  the  fleet  returned 
to  Sicily  in  triumph,  amid  the  congratulations   of 


*  "Hand  obscure  in  exitu  auxilium  cceleste  cerni  potu- 
erit,"  writes  our  historian.  Why  not  believe  in  the  interpo- 
sition of  the  omnipotent  God  of  battles  now,  as  well  as  in 
the  history  of  the  wars  of  the  Hebrews  ? 

f  Id.  n.  93. 


178  JAMES  LAYNEZ. 

the  people.  Laynez  was  especially  covered  with 
honors,  as  having  been — they  well  knew — the 
life  and  soul  of  the  army.  But  no  part  of  the  spoils 
would  he  consent  to  accept.  One  who  evinced  so 
noble  a  contempt  for  suffering  or  death,  whilst  the 
danger  lowered,  was  not  to  be  dazzled  by  success, 
or  corrupted  by  booty.  He  preserved,  under  every 
circumstance,  the  same  stern  love  of  poverty,  and 
the  same  imperturbable  detachment  from  the  glory 
and  fortune  of  the  world.* 


*  Laynez'  exhortation  to  the  soldiers,  when  on  the  point 
of  engaging  with  the  enemy,  deserves  to  be  recorded.  It  is 
manifestly  the  expression  of  a  patriotic  and,  at  the  same  time, 
apostolic  heart :  "  It  behooves  you  to  remember,  soldiers, 
how  different  are  our  weapons  from  those  of  the  enemy  : — 
they  fight  for  booty,  and  vain-glory,  and  the  extension  of 
their  dominion  :  whilst  we  have  taken  up  arms  from  the  pure 
love  of  Christ,  prepared  to  brave  every  danger,  and  even  to 
shed  our  blood  in  defence  of  our  altars  and  hearths.  And 
although  great  achievements  are  performed  by  valor  and 
strength,  we  must  not  confide  in  them,  but  in  the  protection 
of  God,  on  whom  victory  depends.  You  must  fight,  indeed, 
and  bravely ;  but,  in  the  camp,  your  conduct  must  be  pious, 
and  worthy  of  Christians.  It  would  be  criminal,  whilst 
fighting  against  the  enemy,  to  wage  war  against  the  Omnip- 
otent. By  your  virtue  and  piety,  united  with  fortitude, 
you  will  render  God  propitious.  Wherefore,  it  is  not  for  the 
spoils  and  booty  that  you  should  contend,  as  the  barbarians 


JAMES   LAYNEZ.  179 

From  the  noise  and  business  of  the  camp,  he 
knew  how  to  pass,  with  a  wondrous  transition,  to 
the  calm  and  otium  of  the  college.  With  him,  it 
was  no  difficult  matter  for  "  arms  to  3Tield  to 
peace,"*  or  peace,  if  necessary,  to  arms,  when 
the  voice  of  obedience  bade  him  mix  in  either. 
In  the  year  1551,  we  find  those  hands  which  on 
the  desert  shores  of  Africa  were  employed  in  rais- 
ing a  temporary  hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers,  now  employed,  with  no  less  earnestness, 
in  erecting  a  magnificent  college  in  Etruria. 
Eleonora,  the  wife  of  the  Duke  of  Tuscany, 
caused  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  to  recall  Laynez 
from  Sicily  to  Pisa.  Here,  on  Sundays  and  festi- 
vals, he  preached  in  the  church  of  the  Benedic- 
tines ;  and  such  was  the  charm  of  his  urbane  and 
conciliatory  manners,  that  he  attracted  to  the  con- 
fessional numbers  of  distinguished  persons,  and 
thousands  of  the  various  classes  of  society.  To 
the  catechetical  instructions,  he  drew  the  children 


are  accustomed  to  do,  but  for  the  glory  of  God,  which  you 
should  always  have  before  your  eyes :  so  that  the  peace  of 
the  empire  and  the  common  safety  of  our  citizens  may  be 
effected  by  your  arms."  Ribadeneira,  de  vit.  Layn.  lib.  i, 
p.  26. 
*  Cedant  arma  togae,  &c. 


180  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

and  poor,  by  giving  little  presents  to  the  former, 
and  alms  to  the  latter.* 

Meanwhile,  the  services  of  this  extraordinary 
Jesuit  were  again  required  in  the  Tridentine  Coun- 
cil, to  which  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  called  him, 
knowing  well,  as  Polancus  expressed  in  a  letter 
written  to  him  at  this  period,  that  he  was  qualified 
not  merely  to  teach  the  Lord's  Prayer  to  children, 
but  to  instruct,  by  his  incomparable  erudition,  the 
whole  Christian  world.  On  his  arrival  at  Trent, 
he  was  received  amidst  the  gratulations  of  the 
legates  and  the  prelates,  and  the  first  place  among 
the  theologians  was  assigned  to  him,  as  having 
been  deputed  immediately  by  the  Holy  See.f  In 
giving  his  opinion,  he  modestly  prefaced  it  by  re- 
marking, that  in  the  all-important  subjects  relating 
to  the  orthodox  faith,  his  reliance  was  not  on  hu 
man  judgment,  which  was  fallible,  but  on  the 
Divine  assistance  :  that  every  doctrine  should  be 
made  manifest  by  the  testimony  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures  and  the  authority  of  the  holy  Fathers. 
He  declared,  moreover,  that  not  a  single  Father 
would  he  quote,  whom  he  had  not  read  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end.J     When  the  august  sacra- 

*  Lib.  xi.  n.  9.  t  ML  n.  36. 

X  Nullum  se  pro  sua  sententia  Patrem  aut  Doctorem  in 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  181 

ment  of  the  Eucharist  was  brought  under  discus- 
sion, he  cited  no  less  than  thirty-six  Fathers  in 
confirmation  of  the  Catholic  dogma  :  all  of  which, 
according  to  his  own  declaration,  he  not  only  had 
read,  but  had,  likewise,  reduced  into  an  admirable 
abridgment.  When  he  arose  to  speak,  a  deep 
silence  prevailed,  and  loud  applause  was  often 
elicited,  by  the  singular  learning  and  splendid  tal- 
ents which  he  displayed,  during  three  hours  at  a 
time.*  Being  seized  with  a  fever,  probably 
brought  on  by  his  incessant  application  and  fa- 
tigue, the  Council,  unwilling  to  be  deprived  of  his 
invaluable  aid,  held  private  sessions,  in  which, 
despite  his  illness,  he  and  Salmeron  assumed  the 
heaviest  burden.  JEgidius  Foscari,  Bishop  of 
Modena,  bore  testimony  of  their  combined  and 
admirable  usefulness.  In  one  of  his  letters,  written 
at  Trent,  he  asserted  that  Laynez  and  Salmeron 
discussed  the  venerable  dogma  of  the  Eucharist, 
against  the  Lutherans,  in  the  most  splendid  manner. 
"  I  deem  myself  truly  happy,"  he  added,  "  to  be  a 
contemporary  of  such  learned  and  holy  Fathers. "f 


medium  allaturum  quern  non  ipse  totum  a  capite  ad  calcem 
pervolutasaet.    Id.  n.  37. 

*  Id.  n.  28. 

f  Et  re  vera,  me  feUcem  duco,  quod  in  hsec  tempora  tam 
doctorum,  quam  sanctorum  Patrum  inciderim.    Ibid. 

16 


182  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

The  Council  of  Trent  having  been  again  su» 
pended,  in  1552,  Laynez,  hardly  yet  recovered 
from  his  quartan  fever,  repaired  to  Padua, — but 
not,  indeed,  to  rest.  A  new  burden  was  imposed 
upon  his  shoulders  by  Ignatius,  who  made  him 
Provincial  of  Italy.  This  honor,  he,  at  first,  strove 
to  refuse,  on  many  grounds,  but  on  the  one  particu- 
larly suggested  by  his  extreme  humility— namely, 
that  he  himself  had  not  learned  to  obey.*  But  he 
sacrified  his  own  will  to  the  designs  of  Provi- 
dence, made  known  through  his  Superior,  and 
submitted  to  them  with  resignation.  To  the  letter, 
however,  installing  him  in  that  responsible  and 
distinguished  office,  he  replied  in  these  terms  : 
'*  On  receiving  your  Reverence's  epistle,  I  had 
recourse  to  prayer,  with  copious  tears,  (which  I 
rarely  shed,)  and  my  desire  ever  was  and  is  yet — 
which  I  adjure  you  through  the  bowels  of  Christ 
to  take  into  consideration — that  you  would  free  me 
from  the  duty  of  governing,  of  preaching,  and  from 
all  literary  pursuits  ;  leave  me  only  my  breviary. 
Order  me  to  retire  to  Rome  as  a  poor  mendicant, 
and  there  place  me  in  the  kitchen,  or  refectory,  or 
garden,  or  any  other  humble  position  :  or,  if  I  be 
not   fit   for   such   occupation,   let  my  office  be  to 

*  Lib.  xii.  n.  20. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  183 

teach  the  lowest  class  of  grammar,  until  my 
death."* 

And  still,  when  the  unchangeable  determination 
of  Ignatius  was  made  known  to  him,  with  prompt 
obedience  and  child-like  simplicity,  he  bowed  to 
the  yoke  of  preferment  which  was  laid  upon  his 
neck.  A  noble  example  of  heroic  self-abnegation, 
which  how  much  more  easy  it  is  to  admire  than 
to  imitate,  few  of  my  readers  have  yet  to  learn. 

The  happy  effects  of  his  administration  soon 
began  to  manifest  themselves.  At  Genoa,  a  col- 
lege was  founded  by  the  liberality  of  the  citizens, 
aroused  and  inflamed  by  the  powerful  and  exciting 
eloquence  of  Laynez,f  who,  with  his  peculiar  ver- 
satility of  mind,  and  wonderful  faculty  of  dividing 
his  abilities,  at  the  same  time,  among  various  occu- 
pations, compiled,  at  the  desire  of  Ignatius,  a  sum- 
mary of  dogmatic  theology,  for  the  use  of  the 
schools  of  the  Society.^  And  so  unbounded  was 
the  sway  which  his  sacred  oratory  exercised  over 
the  public  mind,  that  frequently  the  appeals  which 
he  made  in  his  Lenten  sermons  in  aid  of  the  poor 
and  friendless  produced,  at  each  time,  not  less  than 
a  thousand — and  once  as  much  as  two  thousand — 
golden  florins. § 

*  Id.  n.  22.  f  Lib.  xiii.  n.  11. 

t  Id.  n.  18.  §  Lib.  xiv.  n.  31. 


184  JAMES  LAYNEZ. 

In  the  year  1555,  he  was  again  selected  by  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff  to  accompany  into  Germany  the 
Legate,  Cardinal  John  Moroni :  but  the  inoppor- 
tune demise  of  Julius  hastened  his  return  to  Italy. 
This  melancholy  event  was  bitterly  deplored  by 
the  Society :  in  Julius,  it  was  deprived  of  a  Father, 
by  whom  it  had  been  munificently  confirmed, 
and  endowed,  favored  with  many  privileges,  and 
adorned  with  numberless  titles  of  his  highest 
favor. 

Marcellus,  who  succeeded  to  the  tiara,  succeeded, 
in  like  manner,  to  the  benevolence  of  Julius 
towards  Ignatius  and  his  order.  When  the  latter 
went  to  pay  his  homages  at  the  feet  of  the  new 
pontiff,  "  Go,"  Marcellus  addressed  him,  "  gather 
soldiers  and  warriors ;  we  will  make  use  of  them."* 
He  then  selected  as  his  theologians,  Laynez  and 
Olauius.  But — such  is  the  uncertainty  of  human 
events — the  hopes  awakened  by  the  friendship  of 
Marcellus  were  soon  destined  to  wither  away.  A 
few  days  later  he  was  precipitated,  by  a  sudden 
stroke  of  death,  into  the  tomb,  followed  by  the 
regret,  and  bewailed  by  the  lamentation,  of  all 
good  men."!" 

*  Tu  milites,  inquit,  collige  et  bellatores,  nos  atemur 
Lib.  xv.  n.  3. 
f  Id.  n.  4 


JAMES   LAYNEZ  1^5 

But  the  auspicious  elevation  of  Paul  IV.  to  the 
throne  of  the  Vatican  compensated  for  the  recent 
calamity,  and  dried  the  tears  of  the  Church.  His 
partiality  to  the  Society  yielded,  in  no  respect,  to 
that  of  his  predecessor.  When  Ignatius  presented 
to  him  in  person  the  congratulations  of  his  whole 
order,  he  was  received  with  every  mark  of  regard, 
kindness,  and  affection  :  not  suffering  him  to  re- 
main upon  his  knees,  but  allowing  him  the  unusual 
honor  of  promenading,  while  conversing,  through 
the  hall  of  reception.*  The  confidence  reposed  by 
the  venerable  Pontiff — he  was  eighty  years  old — 
in  the  Society,  was  unbounded  :  but  of  all  the  re- 
nowned Fathers  then  living,  Laynez  was  most  dear 
to  him.  In  a  conversation  with  some  of  his  breth- 
ren, Ignatius  did  not  hesitate  to  affirm,  that  unless 
the  hand  of  God  should  interpose,  they  should  soon 
see  Laynez  adorned  with  the  Cardinal's  hat.  To 
confer  this  eminent  distinction  on  him,  Paul,  indeed, 
had  intended  :  and  the  apprehension  of  the  event 
excited,  at  once,  all  the  anxiety  of  Ignatius,  and 
all  the  terror  of  Laynez.  Day  and  night  did  this 
humble  man  implore  the  mercy  of  God  to  avert  such 
a  destiny  from  his  head.  He  had  passed  the  better 
portion  of  his  life  in  the  retired  spirit  of  his  Insti- 

*  Lib.  xvi.  n.  4. 
16* 


186  JAMES  LAYNEZ. 

tute  :  how  could  he,  in  its  decline,  consent  to  plunge 
into  the  splendid  turmoils  and  distractions  of  a 
court  ?  He  had  vowed  to  shun  all  honors  in  the 
Church  ;  he  had  coveted  the  lowliest  offices  in  the 
Society, — what  desire  could  he  now  entertain  to 
be  raised  to  the  pinnacle  of  ecclesiastical  and 
princely  glory  ?  And  yet,  he  was  commanded  by 
Paul  to  take  up  his  residence  in  the  Vatican.  Not 
to  appear  to  disregard  the  will  of  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff,  or  to  be  deficient  in  the  due  obedience 
which  he  owed  the  Vicar  of  Christ,  he  instantly 
obeyed.  There  he  remained  but  one  day.  On  the 
next,  he  returned  to  his  brethren,  and  drew  up  the 
following  schedule,  which  he  signed  with  his  own 
hand  : 

"  Whereas,  from  grave  authority,  I  have  learned 
that  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  has  some  design  upon 
me,  I  call  God  to  witness,  and  declare,  in  his 
presence,  with  all  the  candor  and  sincerity  of  my 
heart,  that  I  am  utterly  unfit  for  any  office  which 
may  be  destined  for  me  ;  and  that,  with  my  whole 
mind,  I  shrink  from  it.  For,  having  examined  my- 
self, and  seeing  my  utter  want  of  the  necessary 
qualifications,  I  would  deem  it  ridiculous  for  me  to 
accept  it,  and  altogether  abhorrent  from  the  char- 
acter of  the  Institute  to  which  I  belong  ;  an  Insti- 
tute, in  which  my  labors  will  be  far  more  useful 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  187 

to  the  Church,  and  more  congenial  to  the  vow  that 
I  have  taken.  Of  this  I  will  strive,  by  every  possi- 
ble argument,  to  convince  the  Pope."  * 

In  short,  if  the  Pontiff  should  persist  in  his  de 
termination,  Laynez  had  resolved  to  fly,  and,  after 
the  example  of  some  other  ho\j  men,  hide  himself 
from  the  world.  Paul,  viewing  in  his  sudden  dis- 
appearance from  the  palace,  the  interposition  of 
the  finger  of  Providence,  did  not  recall  him,  much 
less  force  upon  him  the  honors  from  which  he  fled. 
Laynez  saw  the  danger  pass  away  :  his  joy  was 
incredible  ;  his  thanksgiving  to  Heaven  unceasing 
and  intense.-)* 

*  Lib.  xv.  n.  7. 

f  Id.  n.  8.  "  Quo  depulso  periculo,"  writes  Orlandinus  in 
his  classic  style  :  "  Laynius  incredibili  perfusus  est  gaudio, 
nullum  ut  gratulandi  Deo  fin  em  faceret."  This  was  not  the 
only  occasion  in  which  he  had  to  struggle  against  high  hon 
ors  in  the  Church.  While  General  of  the  Order,  the  Cardi 
nals  in  conclave  assembled,  after  the  demise  of  Paul  IV. 
thought  seriously  of  raising  him  to  the  pontifical  throne 
He,  however,  escaped  the  splendid  burden  of  the  tiara, 
which  fell  to  the  lot  of  Pius  IV.  I  cannot  here  omit  an 
interesting  circumstance  that  occurred  at  Paris,  whither 
he  was  deputed  by  the  Pope,  with  the  Legate,  Cardinal 
Hippolyto,  as  theologian,  to  the  Synod  of  Passy.  At  that 
Synod  were  present  the  King  and  Queen  of  Navarre,  five 
Cardinals,  fifteen  Bishops,  the  Prince  of  Conde,  and  several 


188  JAMES   LAYNEZ. 

But,  escaping  one  dignity,  he  was  only  reserved 
for  another  :  a  dignity,  however,  compatible  with 
his  vocation,  and  which  he  afterwards   filled  in  a 


other  princes,  twenty  Doctors  of  the  Sorbonne,  and  the  two 
standard-bearers  of  Lutheranism,  Peter  Martyr  and  Theo- 
dore Beza.  The  object  of  this  Convention  was  to  put  an 
end,  if  possible,  to  religious  disunion.  Laynez  spoke 
at  length  on  the  necessity  of  yielding  to  the  authority  of 
the  Church,  when  Peter  Martyr  urged  not  a  few  objec- 
tions against  several  dogmas  of  faith,  and  especially  against 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  He  argued  that  Christ  cannot  be 
really  offered  on  the  altar,  as  there  the  sacrifice  of  the  cross 
is  merely  represented.  But,  he  insisted,  if  the  thing  itself 
be  present,  there  is  no  representation  of  that  thing  ;  conse- 
quently, according  to  the  admission  of  Catholics  themselves, 
Christ  is  not  truly  present.  To  this  specious  sophism — 
which  has  been  repeated  a  thousand  times  since — Laynez 
gave  this  triumphant  reply :  Suppose  a  king  desired  to  in- 
stitute an  annual  commemoration  of  some  great  victory  ; 
this  he  might  effect  in  three  different  ways :  1.  By  merely 
causing  the  fact  to  be  narrated.  2.  By  causing  it  to  be 
represented  by  actors.  3.  By  being  present  at  it  himself, 
and  thus  representing  the  scene  in  which  he  himself  had 
personally  been  engaged.  No  one  could  doubt  the  reality 
of  the  king's  presence,  although  the  past  victory  is  merely 
represented  anew.  This  clear  and  original  position  he  sup- 
ported, to  the  conviction  of  all  candid  minds,  by  the  holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  ancient  Fathers  of  the  Church.  See 
Tanner,  p.  98. 


JAMES  LAYNEZ.  189 

manner  that  added  new  lustre  not  only  to  his  own 
person,  but  to  the  entire  body  of  the  Society.  On 
the  demise  of  Ignatius,  Laynez  was  raised,  by  the 
suffrages  of  his  brethren,  to  succeed  their  saintly 
founder  as  General  of  the  Order.  In  which  capa- 
city, during  the  space  of  seven  years,  all  the 
treasures  of  his  erudition,  the  qualities  of  his  mind, 
the  magnificent  attributes  of  his  character,  were 
displayed,  to  the  admiration  of  the  world.  The 
history  of  his  administration  would  fill  a  volume 
with  splendid  conceptions  and  glorious  achieve- 
ments. But  to  write  this  would  be  straying  from 
my  object :  which  is,  to  show  forth  to  posterity  the 
picture  of  these  wonderful  men,  merely  as  they 
stood  iii  conjunction  with  Ignatius,  as  his  first 
companions, — that  the  spirit  transfused  by  him 
into  their  conduct  and  character  may  be  properly 
understood  ;  and  that  the  grandeur  with  which  it 
was  carried  out,  in  their  persons,  may  be  justly 
appreciated  and  admired.  With  this  view,  I  will 
close  the  life  of  Laynez  :  and,  in  so  doing,  I  take 
farewell  of  one  of  the  most  admirable  men  who,  in 
any  epoch — but  especially  that  of  the  sixteenth 
century — flourished  in  the  Catholic  Church.* 

*  Laynez  died  in  the  year  1565,  at  Borne. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMEBON. 


CHAPTER    V. 

ALPHONSUS     SALMERON 

Alphonsus  Salmeeon.— Called  to  the  Society.  Teaches  In  the  8apiemsa, 
at  Eome.  Is  sent  to  Ireland.  Seized  as  a  Spy  at  Lyons.  Is  called  to 
Modena.  Is  persecuted.  Is  sent  to  the  Council  of  Trent  Draws  up  a 
Summary  of  the  Errors  of  Luther.  Goes  to  Bologna ;  to  Verona ;  to 
Germany,  at  the  command  of  the  Pope.  Labors  at  Ingoldstadt.  Is  re- 
called to  Verona;  is  sent  to  Naples;  afterwards  to  Poland;  then  to  Bel- 
gium. His  labors  forever  appreciated  by  that  nation — his  immortal 
name. 

The  desire  of  making  the  acquaintance  of  Igna- 
tius having  attracted  Laynez,  as  the  reader  saw 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  to  Paris,  he  was  accom- 
panied, with  the  same  view,  by  a  young  Spaniard, 
a  native  )f  Toledo,  whose  name  was  Alphonsus 
Salmeron.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1515.  His 
parents  were  not  of  the  highest  order,  but,  what 
is  more  valuable,  they  were  honest  and  virtuous  ; 
and  perceiving  in  their  son  extraordinary  talents, 
a  heart  disposed  to  goodness,  and  a  mind  orna- 
mented with  many  gifts  of  nature,  they  trained  him 
up  to  letters,  as  far  as  their  means  would  permit, 
at  Toledo  and  Compostella,  where  he  applied  to  the 

17 


194        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

study  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  and  the 
various  branches  of  philosophy.  The  suavity  of 
his  manners  did  not  yield  to  the  excellence  of  his 
genius.  He  acquired  the  degree  of  Master,  and 
having  determined  to  pursue  a  course  of  theology, 
set  out,  with  this  intent,  to  the  metropolis  of  France, 
where,  as  above  described,  he  became,  with  Laynez, 
the  friend  and  afterwards  the  disciple  of  Ignatius.* 
With  the  other  companions,  after  severe  fasting, 
penitential  austerities,  and  sacramental  confession, 
he  made  his  vows,  on  the  feast  of  the  Assumption, 
(1534,)  in  the  chapel  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary, 
and  sealed  the  solemn  act  by  receiving,  immediately 
after,  the  holy  Eucharist  from  the  hands  of  Faber. 

After  his  ordination,  his  first  destination  was 
Rome  ;  where  he  commanded  universal  attention 
and  respect  by  his  eloquent  discourses,  and  his 
public  disputations  in  the  famous  university  of  the 
Sapienza.f  He  was  next  selected  for  a  mission  of 
a  very  arduous,  but  extremely  interesting  charac- 
acter.  Henry  VIIL,  king  of  England,  having  re- 
pudiated his  lawful  wife,  Catharine,  had  espoused, 
contrary  to  justice  and  right,  the  famous  Anne 
Boleyn.  These  nuptials  could  not  be  approved  by 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff.     On  the  contrary,  he  con- 

*  Lib.  i.  n.  87.  f  Lib.  ii.  n  80. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        195 

demned  and  annulled  them  as  a  violation  of  con- 
science, and  a  contempt  of  the  majesty  of  Charles 
V.*  Henry,  hurried  on  by  the  impetuosity  of  his 
lust,  and  forgetful  of  the  distinguished  stand  he 
had  before  taken  in  defence  of  the  Catholic  faith, 
was  driven  to  fatal  extremes.  Rather  than  forego 
the  charms  of  Anne,  he  embraced  the  errors  of 
Luther,  which  he  once  had  combated  with  his  own 
pen,  and  dared  to  separate  from  the  Holy  See.f 

*  The  reader  will  remember  that  Catharine  was  the  aunt 
of  that  emperor. 

f  When  Luther  first  began  to  dogmatize,  and  before 
Henry  had  yielded  to  the  violence  of  his  own  beastly  pas- 
sions, he  wrote  in  the  following  terms  against  the  German 
apostate : 

"  I  wonder  more,  0  Luther,  (wrote  Henry  VHI.  to  him,) 
that  thou  art  not,  in  good  earnest,  ashamed,  and  that  thou 
darest  to  lift  up  thy  eyes  either  before  God  or  man,  seeing 
that  thou  hast  been  so  light  and  so  inconstant  as  to  allow 
thyself  to  be  transported  by  the  instigation  of  the  devil  to 
Jiy  foolish  concupiscences.  Thou,  a  brother  of  the  order  of 
St.  Augustine,  hast  been  the  first  to  abuse  a  consecrated 
nun ;  which  sin  would  have  been,  in  times  past,  so  rigor- 
ously punished,  that  she  would  have  been  buried  alive  and 
thou  wouldst  have  been  scourged  to  death.  But  so  far  art 
thou  from  correcting  thy  fault,  that  moreover,  shameful  to 
say,  thou  hast  taken  her  pubUcly  to  wife,  having  contracted 
with  her  an  incestuous  marriage  and  abused  the  poor  and 
miserable to  the  great  scandal  of  the  world,  the  re- 


196        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

Nor  was  he  satisfied  with  this  :  but  maddened  by 
his  brutal  passions,  he  even  arrogated  to  himself 
the  title  and  prerogative  of  head  of  the  Anglican 
Church,  which  he  required  all  his  subjects  to  ac- 
knowledge, under  the  penalty  of  most  cruel  enact-' 
merits.  This  sacrilegious  tyranny  one  portion  of 
his  dominions  had  the  courage  and  the  virtue  to 
resist.  Ireland  could  not  be  bribed  or  persecuted 
into  heresy  and  schism.     She  was  doomed  to  op- 

proack  and  opprobrium  of  thy  countrj',  the  contempt  of  holy 
matrimony,  and  the  great  dishonor  and  injury  of  the  vows 
made  to  God.  Finally,  what  is  still  more  detestable,  in- 
stead of  being  cast  down  and  overwhelmed  with  grief  and 
confusion,  as  thou  oughtest  be,  at  thy  incestuous  marriage, 
0  miserable  wretch,  thou  makest  a  boast  of  it,  and  instead 
of  asking  forgiveness  for  thy  unfortunate  crime,  thou  dost 
incite  all  debauched  religious,  by  thy  letters  and  thy  writ- 
ings., to  do  the  same." 

It  was  this  vindication  of  the  ancient  religion  that  ob- 
tained for  Henry — and  it  is  unjustly  retained  by  his  suc- 
cessors— the  glorious  title  of  "  Defender  of  the  Faith/' 
granted  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Clement  VII.  See  Lin- 
gard,  Henry  VIII.,  chap.  ii. 

Henry  did  not  throw  off  some  of  those  practices  which 
have  since  been  stigmatized  by  Protestantism  as  idolatrous  * 
in  his  last  illness,  he  was  constantly  attended  by  his  Cotv 
feasor,  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  heard  Mass  daily,  in  his 
chamber,  and  received  the  communion  under  one  kind.  See 
Lingard,  ubi  supr.  page  275. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        197 

pression,  and  terrible  visitations  of  the  tyrant's 
vengeance  ;  but  the  purity  of  her  faith  could  not 
be  debauched,  nor  her  constancy  to  the  Holy  See 
be  crushed  by  despotism.  "That  faith,"  writes 
Orlandinus,  "remained  intact,  and  that  constancy 
sincere."  * 

But  the  faithful  fold  was  lamentably  deprived  of 
shepherds,  while,  in  every  direction,  wolves  with- 
out number  were  prowling,  and  lions  going  about 
seeking  whom  they  might  devour.  With  paternal 
sympathy  and  solicitude,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff, 
Clement  VII.,  contemplated  the  forlorn  condition 
of  that  part  of  Christ's  heritage.  In  order  to  place 
within  their  reach  the  aids  of  religion,  by  which 
their  spiritual  wants  might  be  supplied,  and  their 
hitherto  unshaken  adherence  to  the  faith  of  their 
ancestors  be  more  and  more  confirmed,  with  the 
apostolic  vigilance  becoming  his  position,  he  cast 
his  eyes  upon  Salmeron  as  a  fit  instrument,  in  the 
hands  of  Providence,  to  effect  this  twofold  object. 
This  eminent  Jesuit,  together  with  his  companion, 


*  Intactam  tamen  Catholicam  fidem,  et  sincerissimam 
erga  Romanum  Pontificem  obedientiam  ammo  ac  voluntate 
servabante.  Lib.  iii.  n.  45.  For  the  particulars  of  the 
king's  divorce,  bis  marriage  "with  Anne  Boleyn,  and  Lis 
rupture  with  Rome,  see  Lingard,  Henry  VIII.,  chap.  iii. 

17* 


198        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

Paschasius,  was  designated  for  that  mission,  and 
invested  with  ample  powers  from  the  Holy  See. 
"  Without  sack  or  sandal,"  in  the  primitive  style  of 
the  first  followers  of  Jesus,  he  set  out  for  that 
beautiful  but  blasted  island.  He  went,  moreover, 
invited  and  expected  with  cordial  veneration  by 
the  Primate  Kobert,  of  Armagh  :  and  the  protection 
of  his  heavenly  Father  was  with  him.*  Accom- 
panied by  a  third  associate — not,  however,  yet 
of  the  Society — whose  name  was  Francis  Zapata, 
he  started,  in  the  month  of  September,  from  the 
city  of  Home,  upon  a  long  and  difficult  journey, 
taking  with  him,  as  their  common  guide,  the  follow- 
ing salutary  admonitions  of  Ignatius  :  '4  In  their 
intercourse  with  men  of  every  grade,  but  especially 
their  inferiors  and  equals,  they  were  instructed  to 
be  reserved  and  moderate  in  their  language  :  to 
listen  with  patience,  and  gentleness,  and  attention  ; 
and  reply  with  brevity  and  precision,  so  as  to  cut 
off  all  secessity  of  persistence  in  the  argument : 
to  imitate  the  benevolence  of  the  apostle,  who  be- 
came all  things  to  all  men  for  the  sake  of  gaining 
them  over  to  Christ :  to  remember  that  nothing 
conciliates  so  effectually  as  conforming,  as  far  as 
proper,  with  the  customs  and  prejudices  of  others  : 

*  Id.  n.  46. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        199 

to  adapt  themselves,  therefore,  with  due  discretion 
and  wisdom,  to  the  manners  of  the  people  :  to  op- 
pose Satan  with  his  own  weapons,  and  make  use 
of  every  art  to  insure  their  salvation  which  the  in- 
fernal enemy  exercises  for  their  eternal  ruin  ; — this 
was  the  maxim  of  Saint  Basil  ;* — for,  when  Satan 
sets  about  to  destroy  a  soul,  he  does  not  attempt  it 
openly,  and  at  once,  but  by  various,  and  secret,  and 
cunning  artifices  ;  to  praise,  in  the  beginning,  what 
they  see  laudable  in  the  conduct  of  the  people, 
passing  by,  for  a  time,  their  vices,  until  their  good 
will  and  friendship  be  secured  :  to  preach  the 
Catholic  truths  and  virtues  not  only  in  public  dis- 
courses, but  likewise  in  private  conferences,  and 
not  to  forget  that  whatever  they  say,  even  '  in 
the  dark/  will  spread  abroad,  and  be  proclaimed 
'from  the  very  house-top  :'  in  transacting  busi- 
ness, rather  to  anticipate,  than  defer  time ;  so 
that  if  any  thing  be  promised  for  the  morrow, 
let  it  be  performed  on  the  present  day :  to  re- 
fuse all  pecuniary  compensation,  even  for  dis- 
pensations ;  but  whatever  moneys  might  be  re- 
ceived should  be  given  to  the  poor  :  to  write  to 
Rome  frequently  on  their  journey  ;  from  Scotland  ; 
as  soon  as  they  should  reach  Ireland  ;   and  after* 

*  St.  Basil,  in  reg.  brev.  interrog. ,  245.    • 


iOO        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

wards,   every  month  to  give   an  account  of  theii 
mission."* 

Armed  with  these  instructions,  Salmeron  bent 
his  way,  not  without  imminent  danger,  through 
France,  as  the  war  then  raging  through  that 
country  rendered  suspicious  every  stranger  who 
ventured  to  enter  it.  He,  however,  escaped,  and 
embarked  for  Scotland,  whence,  encountering 
great  difficulties  and  obstacles,  he  passed  over 
to  Ireland,  where,  under  the  Divine  protection,  he 
arrived  about  the  beginning  of  Lent.f  Here  he 
found  every  thing  in  disorder  ;  fear  and  terror  oc- 
cupied every  heart,  and  the  condition  of  the  Catho- 
lics was  discovered  to  be  far  worse  in  reality  than 
had  been  described  to  them  at  a  distance.  The 
people  were  poor  and  neglected,  and  entirely  de- 
prived of  the  care  and  vigilance  of  pastors.  The 
nobles,  with  one  solitary  exception,  had  succumbed 
to  the  will  of  the  tyrant,  and  bound  themselves  by 
oath  to  burn  all  letters  that  might  come  from  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff,  and  to  apprehend  and  imprison 
all   who   should   continue   faithful  to   the   ancient 

*  Id.  n.  48,  49.  The  principal  heads  of  these  wise  admo- 
nitions of  St.  Ignatius  are  given ;  leaving  out  some,  which 
the  reader  may  find  in  full  in  the  numbers  to  which  he  u 
referred. 

f  Id.  n.  58. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        201 

Church.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  Catholics 
did  not  dare  receive  the  Father  as  coming  with  ex- 
traordinary powers  from  the  Holy  See,  or  even 
whisper  abroad  the  object  of  his  mission.  But 
Salmeron  and  his  companions  did  not  yield  to  de- 
spondency, or  recoil  from  danger.  They  studied 
their  position  ;  marked  the  difficulties  that  sur- 
rounded their  path  ;  and  labored,  privately  at 
least,  to  master  them  all.  They  succeeded  to  a 
considerable  extent ;  and  found  means  to  proffer 
their  spiritual  assistance  to  the  suffering  but  faith- 
ful people.  They  encouraged  and  strengthened 
them  by  salutary  exhortations  ;  instructed  them  in 
the  pure  spirit  of  religion,  teaching  them  what  to 
retain  and  what  to  reject.  To  thousands  they  admin- 
istered the  sacraments  ;  celebrated  the  holy  myste- 
ries ;  performed,  with  assiduous  and  compassionate 
zeal  and  solicitude,  all  the  offices  of  their  ministry, 
in  a  manner  worthy  the  cause  in  which  they  were 
enlisted,  and  the  Institute  under  which  they  acted. 
The  joy  of  the  Irish  people  was  universal,  their 
gratitude  characteristic.  Whoever  has  studied  the 
genius  of  that  susceptible  and  devoted  nation,  will 
easily  understand  how  intense  and  heartfelt  was 
their  veneration  of  these  apostolic  men,  who,  for 
the  mere  love  of  their  souls,  had  encountered  the 
fatigues  of  a  long  journey,  and  the  frowns  of  the 


202        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON". 

English  government.  And,  were  it  now  more 
universally  known  that  Salmeron  and  Paschasius 
Broetus,  those  true  disciples  of  Ignatius,  were  the 
first  missionaries  sent  from  Rome,  to  comfort  and 
strengthen  the  Irish  Catholics  immediately  after  the 
fatal  Reformation  in  England,  their  names  would 
be  embalmed  in  the  memories,  and  engraven  on 
the  hearts,  of  the  children  of  Erin,  at  the  present 
day.  If  the  mere  circumstance  of  my  being  in- 
strumental in  bringing  these — their  ancient  bene- 
factors— before  the  people  of  Ireland,  were  the  only 
good  result  produced  by  this  biography,  I  should, 
even  so,  consider  my  pains  and  my  research  more 
than  abundantly  compensated. 

During  thirty  days,  Salmeron  and  his  compan- 
ions traversed  the  island,  giving  an  example  of 
unrelenting  perseverance,  shining  sanctity,  and 
unparalleled  disinterestedness.  The  fame  of  his 
spiritual  exploits  spread  abroad,  and  aroused  the 
vindictive  passions  of  the  English  Protestants,  who 
offered  a  large  reward  for  his  head.  Dazzled  by 
the  fascinations  of  gold,  many  individuals  were 
ready  to  betray  and  sell  the  missionaries.  They 
stood  in  imminent  peril.  Their  usefulness — 
watched  and  hemmed  round  by  the  venal  enemies 
of  the  Church — was  at  an  end  ;  and  it  became  their 
duty  to  save  their  lives  by  withdrawing  from  the 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        203 

island.  They,  accordingly,  fled  to  Scotland,  obe- 
dient to  the  positive  commands  of  Ignatius,  that, 
should  they  deem  their  remaining  in  Ireland  to  be 
unsafe,  they  should,  straightway,  retrace  their  steps 
to  Italy.*  In  complying  with  this  injunction,  they 
left  behind  them  a  blessed  memory  among  the 
people,  and  a  signal  monument  of  apostolic  virtues, 
for  having  exposed  themselves  to  danger  and  to 
death,  with  a  total  renunciation  of  their  own  will, 
actuated  by  supernatural  charity,  spurning  all  per- 
sonal consideration,  and  devoting  their  being  to  the 
salvation  of  their  oppressed  and  persecuted  breth- 
ren.f 

On  his  return  to  Scotland,  Salmeron,  whose  soul 
was  still  undaunted,  and  whose  zeal  was  on  fire,  used 
every  effort  to  obtain  an  audience  of  the  king,  with 
the  hope  of  persuading  that  monarch  to  relax  his 
rigor    against  his   Catholic   subjects.     But   every 

*  Id.  n.  60.    Ribadeneira,  Vit.  Salm.     Tanner,  p.  196. 

f  Abeunt,  igitur,  ex  Hybernia,  relicto  apud  eos  populos 
cum  desiderio  non  parvo  turn  singulari  monumento  virtutis, 
qui  morte  periculisque  contemptis,  nulla  sua  utilitate  quos- 
cunque,  sed  una  dumtaxat  animorum  salute,  ac  caritate  duc- 
ti,  tantum  itineris  suscepissent.  Id.  n.  60.  Were  not  such 
men  under  the  guidance  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  same  Spirit 
which  animated  the  first  most  glorious  apostle  of  Ireland, 
and  the  holy  monk  who  converted  England  ? 


204        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

avenue  to  the  throne  was  blocked  up  by  the  indu» 
try  of  the  courtiers,  who  had  abjured  the  ancient 
faith  together  with  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Scot- 
tish people.  In  despair  of  effecting  his  purpose, 
or  bringing  about  any  good  result  by  delaying  in 
that  apostate  realm,  he,  with  his  companions, 
crossed  the  Channel,  and  reaching  again  the  more 
genial  and  grateful  soil  of  France,  landed  at 
Dieppe,  and  pursued  his  journey,  on  foot,  to  Paris. 
There,  having  tarried  a  considerable  length  of 
time,  he  received  letters  from  the  Pope  instructing 
him  to  return,  with  the  same  privileges  and  powers, 
to  Scotland.  But,  on  informing  the  Holy  See  of 
the  condition — as  he  had  witnessed  it — of  that 
country,  he  was  ordered  to  bend  his  way  directly, 
with  his  faithful  associate,  Paschasius,  to  the  Eter- 
nal City.  Poor  and  humble,  like  the  fishermen  of 
Galilee  of  old,  they  travelled  on  in  safety  as  far  as 
Lyons :  there,  in  consequence  of  the  war  that  was 
raging  between  the  French  and  the  Spaniards, 
every  stranger  was  viewed  with  suspicion,  and  es- 
pecially these  two  priests — the  one  a  Spaniard,  the 
other  a  Frenchman — so  unusually  sordid  in  their 
appearance,  so  singularly  negligent  in  their  dress. 
Wherefore,  they  were  seized  as  spies,  and  cast  into 
prison.  Fortunately,  however,  they  were  known  to 
the  Cardinal  of  Tours,  who  happened,  then,  to  be  at 


ALPHONSUS  SALMEKON.        205 

Lyons,  and  by  him  not  only  honorably  dismissed, 
but  provided  with  means  and  horses  to  continue 
their  journey.  Such  was  the  result  of  the  Irish 
mission  ;  which,  although  it  did  not  realize  the, 
perhaps,  too  fervent  anticipations  of  the  Pontiff, 
nevertheless  exhibited  a  shining  monument  of  the 
zeal  of  Salmeron,  of  his  devotion  and  obedience  to 
the  Holy  See,  and  his  readiness  to  brave  any  dan- 
gers, submit  to  any  privations,  nay,  even  expose 
his  precious  life,  for  the  defence  and  propagation  of 
the  Catholic  faith. 

And  here  I  must  not  pass  over,  without  due  com- 
memoration, the  name  of  Robert,  Primate  of  Ar- 
magh. This  venerable  prelate  was  by  birth  a 
Scotchman,  and  had  been  blind  from  his  boyhood,* 
but  was  distinguished  for  learning,  and  renowned 
for  piety.  When  informed  of  the  little  success  of 
this  mission,  "  Now,"  he  said,  "  I  clearly  perceive, 
that  unless  the  sheep  hear  the  voice  of  the  shep- 
herd, no  good  can  be  done."  Despite  his  blindness, 
he  labored  vehemently  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
his  people,  and  assisted  at  the  Council  of  Trent : 
from  which,  returning  to  Ireland,  he  was  taken  ill 
at  Lyons,  and,  with  these  words  on  his  lips, 
"  Lord,  if  I  can  still  be  useful  to  thy  Church,  I  do 

*  A  puero  csecus,  Id.  n.  61. 

18 


206        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

not  refuse  to  labor  ;  but  thy  will  be  done," — he 
expired  in  the  arms  of  the  Jesuits,  whom  he  in- 
tensely loved  and  venerated. 

After  enduring  great  fatigue  and  anxiety,  among 
a  distant  people,  Salmeron's  next  destiny  was  to 
suffer  a  most  cruel  persecution  in  Italy.  He  sui  • 
mounted  the  former  with  apostolic  fortitude,  he  will 
subdue  the  latter  with  noble  magnanimity.  Invit- 
ed to  Modena  by  the  Cardinal  Moroni,  he  repaired 
to  that  city,  where,  during  two  years,  he  labored 
in  the  spiritual  vineyard.  On  those  fields  of  the 
Church,  with  the  good  grain  planted  and  fostered 
by  his  hands,  there  grew  up  much  cockle  which 
the  devil  had  sowed.  The  poison  of  Lutheranism 
had  sunk  so  deeply  into  the  hearts  of  many,  that 
not  only  did  it  defy  the  healing  power  of  Salmeron, 
but  it  caused  them  to  fester  with  hate  and  malevo- 
lence against  him.  They  had  the  hardihood  to 
accuse  him  of  teaching  false  doctrines,  and  even 
attacked  the  sanctity  of  his  morals.  Numberless 
calumnies  against  him  were  scattered  abroad, 
which,  as  they  spread,  accumulated  in  gravity,  and 
in  apparent  authenticity.  The  holy  and  injured 
man  held  his  place  with  constancy,  and,  both  in 
public  and  private,  hazaided  everything  most  dear, 
with  the  hope  of  recalling  the  erring  from  their 
devious  labyrinths,  and  the  abandoned  to  a  sense 


ALPHONSUS    SALMERON.  207 

of  duty  and  religion.  With  a  sacred  freedom  he 
reproved  vice,  inveighed  against  abuses,  and  ar- 
gued against  heresy.  But  his  zeal  was  repaid 
with  ingratitude  and  injury.  His  enemies  went  so 
far  as  to  depute  informers  to  the  Roman  court, 
charging  him  with  iniquitous  conduct.  On  hear- 
ing this,  Ignatius,  who  knew  full  well  the  inno- 
cence of  his  disciple,  summoned  him,  nevertheless, 
to  Rome,  that  he  might,  in  person,  be  able  to  vindi- 
cate himself.  In  effect,  he  so  completely  confound- 
ed his  enemies,  and  so  immaculately  emerged  from 
the  trying  ordeal,  that  it  is  manifest  Heaven  sub- 
jected him  to  it  only  for  the  purpose  of  signalizing, 
in  the  clearest  and  brightest  manner,  the  sanctity 
of  its  servant.* 

From  the  arena  of  his  triumph  over  the  assaults 
of  calumny,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  as  if  to  decree 
him  a  solemn  ovation,  associated  him  with  Laynez 
as  an  apostolic  theologian  to  the  holy  Council  of 
Trent  :f  as  one  best  calculated,  by  his  extraordi- 
nary erudition,  singular  prudence,  and  integrity  of 
life,  to  combat  and  defeat  the  enemies  of  the 
Church.     The   honor   conferred   on    Salmeron  was 


*  Lib.  iv.  n.  13,  14. 

f  See  the  particulars  as  above  related  in  the  biography  of 
Laynez,  chap.  iv. 


203        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

the  more  signally  marked,  as  he  was,  at  this  epoch, 
only  in  his  thirty-first  year.*  Notwithstanding  his 
extreme  youth,  so  exalted  was  the  opinion  which 
the  prelates  entertained  of  his  wisdom  and  abilities, 
that  they  often  consulted  with  him  in  private,  be- 
fore they  delivered  their  sentiments  in  the  public 
sessions.f  He  delivered  a  Latin  oration,  of  which 
the  style  and  composition  were  so  elegant,  that  it 
was  published  by  the  desire  of  the  Council,  as  a 
masterpiece  of  sacred  rhetoric,  and  was  preserved 
as  such  for  the  benefit  and  admiration  of  posteri- 
ty.!    On  the  subject  of  Justification — an  abstruse 

*  "  Or  quanto  a  Padri  Laynez,  et  Salmerone,  l'uno  e  l'altro 
eran  giovani ;  queste  ne'  trent'  un  anni,  quegli  ne'  trenta 
quattro  :  di  che  ingenio,  e  sapere,  il  vidrem  poscia  :  che  non 
se  ne  vuol  ricordare  altro  che  il  zelo  della  fede  Cattolica,  e 
della  reformazione  della  Chiesa,  ch'era  ardentissimo  in 
amendue  adunque  in  tante,  e  cosi  gravissime  occasioni  che 
loro  tuttodi  si  offerrebbono  d'adoperarlo,  esser  pericolosi  di 
trasandare  con  qnalque  seorso  di  lingua,  difficillissimo  a  scan- 
sare,  peroche  altretanto  difficile  a  conoscere." — Bartoli,  lib. 
ii.  p.  6. 

And  yet,  notwithstanding  their  extreme  youth,  the  reader 
will  learn  in  the  text,  how  great  was  the  authority,  how 
powerful  the  influence,  which  they  exercised  over  the  whole 
Council. 

f  Lib.  vi.  n.  23. 

X  Orlandinus,  than  whom  no  better  judge  could  exist,  de> 


ALPHONSUS  SALMEKON.        209 

and  much  vexed  question — his  prudence  shone  out 
in  brilliant  rays,  especially  as  he  was  the  first  to 
deliver  his  sentiments  concerning  it.  For,  many 
and  powerful  objections  were  to  be  refuted,  many 
obscure  points  to  be  made  evident,  and  vast  re- 
search to  be  exhibited. 

The  reputation,  so  justly  acquired  by  Salmeron 
in  the  Council,  was  enhanced  by  his  indefatigable 
zeal  in  preaching,  hearing  confessions,  and  visiting 
the  hospitals.  The  prelates,  assembled  from  all 
parts  of  the  world,  beheld,  with  amazement,  the 
spirit  of  the  Society  exemplified  in  her  first  disci- 
ples at  Trent.  Its  fame  spread  rapidly  and  widely 
among  all  true  Catholics,  while  the  wavering  and 
the  perverted  earnestly  endeavored  to  tarnish  its 
glory.  The  Bishop  of  Clairmont,  who,  ere  he  wit- 
nessed, with  his  own  eyes,  the  shining  example  of 
Salmeron  and  his  companions,  had  been  tainted 
with  some  undefined  prejudice  against  their  order, 
afterwards  not  only  became  conciliated  and  satis- 
fied, but  proved  his  sincerity,  and  signalized  his 
friendship,  by  becoming  the  founder  of  no  less  than 
three  Jesuit  colleges  in  his  diocese.* 

clares  :  Salmeron  latinam  orationem  habuit  elegantis  illius 
tonventus  auribus  dignam.    Ibid.  n.  24. 
*  Lib.  vi.  n.  30. 

18* 


210        ALPHONSUb  SALMERON. 

At  Bologna — whither  the  Council  was  transfer!  ed 
— Salmeron  continued  his  unremitting  duties,  as 
apostolic  theologian,  and  an  arduous  missionary. 
He  preached  the  Lent  (1548),  in  the  church  of  St. 
Lucia,  introduced  among  the  highest  classes  a  taste 
and  habit  of  prayer,  and  drew  many  of  the  noble- 
men to  the  sacred  tribunal.  Thence,  at  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Bishop  of  Verona,  Louis  Lipomani,  he 
went  to  that  city,  where,  by  his  discourses  and 
instructions,  he  produced  much  fruit :  he  confirmed 
in  the  faith  the  minds  of  many  who  began  to  doubt, 
recalled  to  the  bosom  of  the  Church  several  who 
had  strayed  away,  and  silenced  the  noisy  declama- 
tions of  Heresy  against  the  holiness  of  Truth,  by 
a  public  e^Jration  of  the  sacred  Scriptures.*  Al- 
though, ingeliejAl,  listened  to  with  marked  respect 
and  admi^raon  lathis  auditors,  he  was,  by  some 
' '-<£.  individuals^yjhen^fti  depraved  habits  or  tainted 
*  V  Viands — interrupted  8paf  opposed.  He  was  styled 
v  '  vy  tn-^a^ulator  of  tft^omtuijypontiff,  afraid  to  reveal 
V,  whatnie  wellvknew2frncefA|g  the  Church  of  Rome. 
In  other  words,,  he  wft^ftccirflkyf  vile  hypocrisy — 
the  last  subterfuge  of  the^meijes  of  Truth  ;  who, 
when  argument  fails  thein— as  our  daily  experience 
teaches — always   have   recourse    to   the   infamous 

*  Lib.  viii.  n.  28,  et  Lib.  ix.  n.  48. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        211 

logic  of  calumny  and  misrepresentation.  This,  it 
appears  from  the  circumstance  before  us,  was  an 
early  artifice  of  the  Reformation  ;  and  on  this  much 
of  its  declining  influence  reposes,  after  an  interval 
of  three  hundred  years.  In  our  own  republic,  is 
not  Catholicism  identified  by  her  opponents  with 
Jesuitism,  and  is  not  Jesuitism  confounded  with 
mental  reservation,  suppression  of  truth,  and  the 
justification  of  the  means  necessary  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  any  object?  When  the  ingenuous 
and  upright  mind  sees  through  this  baneful  scheme 
of  the  leaders  of  Protestantism,  what  wonder  is  it, 
that  it  abandons  them  in  disgust,  and  seeks  for 
truth  and  virtue  in  the  blessed  tabernacles  of 
Rome  !  * 

From  Verona,  Salmeron  extended  his  missionary 
solicitude  to  Belluno,  an  ancieajflSmd  elegant  city 
in  the  Venetian  dominions,  *ffware<*^f  the  bitter    ,    . 
animosity  that  existed  therj^^gainiSwis  person  andL^v  * 
the  institute  of  the  Sociafa^rie  i^flpfionately  rettpb-     .  -%* 
mended  himself  and  jfe'objajv  to  the   pra^rs  of  ^v 
Ignatius.     ConfidenJJjSf  tkk  holiness  of  his  cause* 
he  commenced  a  Srolio^ course,  of*  lectures,  which 
were  numerously  frequented  ;  gave  private  instruc- 
tions ;  introduced  the  practice  of  prayer  and  medi- 
tation ;  extirpated  vices  ;  and  revived  a  spirit  of 
piety  and  devotion.     His  novel  style  of  preaching 


212        ALPHONSUS  SALMEKON. 

excited  universal  admiration  :  all  united  in  con 
ceding  that  the  true  and  genuine  character  of  pul- 
pit oratory  was  displayed  to  perfection  in  his  f  rvid 
and  solid,  his  moving  and  convincing  eloquence. 
Since  the  days  of  St.  Bernard  of  Sienna — it  was 
unanimously  admitted — no  preacher  ever  produced 
more  general  and  lasting  good.*  To  this  declara- 
tion the  state  of  society  bore  evidence.  Violent 
and  deadly  animosities  were  extinguished  ;  errors 
and  unsound  opinions  were  abandoned  ;  the  works 
of  Luther  and  his  fellow-gospellers  were  destroyed  ; 
the  sacraments  were  frequented  ;  the  fasts  of  Lent 
and  other  penitential  ordinances  were  revived ; 
and,  in  fine,  Religion  reassumed  her  pristine  dis- 
cipline and  salutary  sway.f  The  acknowledged 
success  of  Salmeron  in  counteracting  the  advance- 
ment and  pernicious  consequences  of  error  at  Bel- 
luno,  induced  Ignatius  to  station  him  in  the  very 
seat  of  its  empire — Germany.  With  Jaius  and 
Canisius  he  was  ordered  to  undertake  that  mission 
at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  William,  Duke  of 
Bavaria,  an  uncompromising  defender  of  the  Cath- 

*  Id.  n.  49. 

f  "Denique,"  writes  our  historian,  "  alia  id  genus  com 
plura  gesta."  No  wonder  the  sons  of  Ignatius  should  bo 
hated  by  the  votaries  of  the  world,  and  the  enemies  of  the 
Catholic  faith. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMEROK.        213 

olic  faith.  To  add  greater  weight  to  their  project, 
the  degree  of  Doctors  in  Theology  was  awarded 
to  them  all  by  the  famous  University  of  Bologna. 
This  honor  they  received  through  the  Cardinal  John 
Maria  de  Monte,  who  afterwards  was  raised  to  the 
papal  throne.  At  Trent,  the  former  theatre  of  Sal- 
meron's  learning  and  eloquence,  they  were  received, 
with  merited  distinction,  by  the  cardinal,  who  com- 
mended them  by  special  letters  to  the  Duke  of  Ba- 
varia. This  noble  prince,  who  yielded  to  none  in 
his  veneration  for  these  saintly  Jesuits,  received 
them  with  every  token  of  cordial  affection.  With 
public  demonstrations  of  welcome  they  entered  the 
city  of  Ingoldstadt,  and  were  especially  greeted  by 
the  whole  academy,  in  a  masterly  Latin  oration.* 
On  the  following  day,  in  the  "ancient"  college, 
Salmeron  began  an  explication  of  the  epistles  of 
St.  Paul,  which  he  continued  in  a  series  of  dis- 
courses not  less  learned  than  beautiful :  which 
were  so  greatly  admired  by  the  illustrious  members 
of  the  academy,  that  they  were  published  for  the 


*  In  a  no  less  elegant  style  Canisius  responded  extempo- 
raneously, in  the  name  of  his  companions ;  "  Cni  subito  et 
eleganter  omnium  nomine  a  Canisio  responsum  est,"  writes 
Orlandmus,  ubi  mpr.  n.  54 


21-i  ALPHONSUS   SALMERON. 

perusal  and  instruction  of  all  men  of  taste  and  in 
vestigation.* 

A  sudden  order  of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  requir- 
ing his  presence  at  Verona,  suspended  the  great 
and  good  work  he  had  commenced.  Obedient  to 
nis  supreme  will,  although  the  duke  remonstrated 
loudly  and  strongly  against  the  measure,  Salmeron 
quitted  Ingolstadt  amid  the  tears  and  regrets  of 
the  Academicians.  At  Verona  he  was  created 
Dean  of  Theology  in  the  university,  where  he  re- 
mained an  entire  year. 

At  Naples,  a  college  was  about  being  founded 
under  the  auspices  of  Hector  Pignatelli,  Duke  of 
Monte  Leone,  and  Caraffa,  Count  of  Montorio. 
These  distinguished  benefactors  of  the  Society 
wrote  to  Ignatius  requesting  him  to  send  to  that 
city  some  eminent  Jesuit  to  preach  the  Lenten  ser- 
mons, and  negotiate  concerning  their  meditated  es- 
tablishment. Salmeron  was  selected,  and  was  re- 
ceived at  Naples  with  solemn  congratulations. 
Without  delay,  he  entered  upon  the  offices  of  his 
mission,  and,  at  the  suggestion  of  most  noble  and 
influential  citizens,  commenced,  in  the  church  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin,  a  course  of  lectures  explana- 
tory of  the  epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Galatians, 

*  Id.  ibid. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        215 

which  he  conducted  with  such  fervid  eloquence  and 
solid  erudition,  that  he  crushed  the  secret  spirit  of 
heresy  which  was  lurking  in  the  bosom  of  society.* 

Useful  as  were  his  labors  at  Naples,  a  more 
conspicuous  and  unlimited  stage  was  ag*ain  pre- 
pared for  him  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff.  Again 
must  he  assume  his  post  as  Theologian  of  the  Holy 
See  in  the  sacred  Council  of  Trent.  He  reached 
that  city,  in  company  with  Laynez,  towards  the 
end  of  July,  A.  D.  1551  ;  where,  as  we  have  related 
in  the  last  chapter,  he  won  golden  opinions,  both 
for  himself  personally,  and  for  the  Society  which  he 
represented.f 

Three  years  later  he  visited  again  the  city  of 
Naples,  where  he  resumed,  with  his  former  energy 
and  fervor,  the  work  of  instruction  and  piety 
which  had  been  interrupted  for  so  long  a  time.  To 
his  sermons  crowds  flocked  without  number.  With 
his  irresistible  eloquence  and  learning,  he  swept 
away,  as  so  many  flimsy  cobwebs,  the  heresies 
which  certain  reformists  had  woven  among  the 
people,  and  revived  the  primitive  spirit  of  devotion 
and  fervor.     Among  other  pious  institutions,  he  es 


*  Lib.  xi.  n.  16. 

f  Id.  n.  36.    See  the  particulars  in  the  biography  of  Lay- 
nez, chap.  iv. 


216        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

tablished  two  sodalities,  one  for  men,  the  othei 
for  women.  Of  the  former  the  object  was— 
strengthening  their  resolution  by  receiving  the 
holy  communion  every  fortnight — to  catechise 
children,  instruct  the  ignorant,  diffuse  peace  and 
concord  among  their  fellow-citizens,  entice  others, 
by  their  virtuous  example,  to  the  frequentation  of 
the  sacraments,  and  to  visit  and  nurse  the  poor 
and  infirm.*  That  of  the  women  required  its  mem- 
bers to  approach  weekly  the  holy  table  ;  to  imbue 
the  minds  of  their  children  and  domestics  with 
the  influence  of  religion,  by  reflecting  it  in  their 
own  conduct ;  to  provide  for  the  unfortunate  of 
their  own  sex  who  should  desire  to  reform  their 
lives  ;  and  to  beware  of  decorating  their  own  per- 
sons meretriciously  or  too  extravagantly,  either  by 
the  use  of  factitious  coloring  or  unseemly  dress.f 
The  usefulness  of  such  sodalities  to  the  members 
themselves,  and  to  society  at  large,  may  be  easily 
imagined  :  and  it  was  in  promoting  such  holy  ob- 


*  Lib.  xiv.  n.  36.  Of  course,  only  the  most  exemplary  and 
iisinterested  could  obtain  membership  in  this  admirable  as- 
ociation. 

f  Against  the  custom  of  painting,  St.  Cyprian  inveighed 
in  unsparing  terms,  as  unbecoming  Christian  ladies.  See 
Orlandinus,  ubi  supr. 


ALPHONSUS  SALMERON.        217 

jects  that  the  disciples  of  Ignatius — and  in  this 
particular  especially  Salmeron — dedicated  and  de- 
moted their  talents  and  their  lives.  Europe  beheld 
them  with  wonder,  and  looked  to  them  as  the  props 
and  ornaments  of  the  Faith  in  these  disastrous 
times.  Everywhere  colleges  were  asked  for : 
insomuch  that  it  was  impossible  for  Ignatius  to 
supply  the  demand  for  his  disciples.  The  request 
of  Sienna  was,  however,  granted  ;  and  in  the  erec- 
tion of  her  college,  Salmeron  justly  claims  no  vul- 
gar merit. 

That  beautiful  and  lately  powerful  city  had  just 
recovered  from  the  horrors  of  an  exhausting  war, 
and  fallen  under  the  dominion  of  Philip  (1556)  ; 
and  was  placed  under  the  government  of  Cardinal 
Francis  Mendoza.  This  noble  prelate,  seeing  on 
all  sides  the  melancholy  vestiges  of  that  fatal  war, 
and  commiserating  the  calamities  of  a  people  re- 
nowned for  humanity  and  refinement,  resolved  to 
remedy  the  evil  by  blending  together  the  Divine 
and  human  aid.  To  this  effect,,  he  entreated  Igna- 
tius to  allow  him  the  assistance  of  three  members 
jf  his  order,  under  whose  auspicious  and  soothing 
influence  he  anticipated  the  happiest  and  holiest 
results.  The  appeal  to  his  charity,  under  these 
woeful  circumstances,  awoke  the  deep  sympathies 
of  Ignatius  ;  and  forthwith  he  chose  the  number 

19 


218        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

desired,  of  which  the  most  conspicuous  was  Sal- 
meron.  From  Poland,  whither  he  had  been  sent 
with  the  Apostolic  Nuncio,  Louis  Lipomani,  (he 
was  the  first  Jesuit  that  was  ever  seen  in  that  king- 
dom,) by  the  order  of  Ignatius  he  was  summoned 
back  to  Italy,  and  stationed  at  Sienna,  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  cardinal  and  the  city  * 

He  was  not,  however,  left  long  in  that  position  ; 
—scarcely  long  enough  to  accomplish  all  the  good 
anticipated.  His  services  were  deemed  so  invalu- 
able by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  that  they  were 
made  to  extend  from  kingdom  to  kingdom  a  brief 
but  indelible  influence,  rather  than  to  conceutrate 
in  any  particular  part.  He  was  soon  called  back 
to  Rome  by  the  Pope,  who  associated  him  with  the 
Cardinal  de  Montala  in  a  mission  to  Belgium,  where 
he  laid  the  foundations  of  that  firm  and  reverential 
hold  which  the  Society  secured  among  a  truly 
Catholic  people,  who  have,  to  the  present  day, 
cherished  their  faith  with  a  primitive  integrity 
and  love,  and  stand  in  the  midst  of  the  nations  of 
the  earth  a  living,  speaking,  splendid  monument 
of  the  genius,  character,  and  influence  of  the  Cath- 
olic faith.f     The  Belgians,  who  are  now,  perhaps, 

*  Lib.  xvi.  n.  3,  4,  5. 

f  See  the  particulars  of  the  introduction  of  the  Society 


ALPHONSUS  SALMEKON.        219 

the  most  Catholic  people  in  Europe,  have  not  for- 
gotten the  labors  of  the  primitive  Society  among 
them.  During  all  succeeding  times,  it  has  been 
cherished  and  venerated  :  some  of  the  most  mag- 
nificent volumes  which  the  press  ever  sent  out  into 
the  world  were  the  productions  of  her  sons,  and 
the  perfection  of  the  typographic  art  of  their  pub- 
lishers. While  their  grateful  posterity — whose 
ever  ardent  faith  has  been  kept  alive,  and  whose 
ever  Catholic  spirit  has  been  perpetuated  in  a  great 
degree  by  the  Society — recurs  to  the  annals  of 
their  history,  and  admires  the  glorious  names  that 
sparkle  on  every  page,  they  will  perceive  none  ir- 
radiated with  a  brighter  and  purer  halo  than  that 
of  Alphonsus  Salmeron.* 


into  Belgium,  as  narrated  in  Orlandinus,  lib.  xvi.  n.  28,  29, 
30,  31,  32,  et  seq. 

*  On  quitting  Belgium  for  Rome,  whilst  passing  through 
the  town  of  Basle,  he  was  challenged  by  some  of  the  Re- 
formists to  a  controversy.  From  this  he  came  forth  triumph- 
antly, having  crushed  his  adversaries  under  the  weight  of 
his  arguments.  He  reached  Rome  in  1558,  after  the  death 
of  Ignatius.  By  Laynez,  he  was  then  sent  into  Naples, 
where  he  continued  laboring  with  unceasing  zeal,  and 
wonderful  success,  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  It  was  his 
fortune  to  live  under  five  different  Generals — Ignatius,  Lay- 
nez, Borgia,  Everardus  Mercurianus.  and  Aquaviva,  whom 


220        ALPHONSUS  SALMERON. 

Mr.  Stephen,  in  his  famous  essay  on  "  Loyola  and  his  Asso 
"iates,"  nominates  the  Numa  Pompilius  of  the  Order.  Re- 
peating these  words,  Lcetatur  anima  mea,  "my  soul  re- 
joices," with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  a  crucifix,  he  calmly  ex- 
pired on  the  13th  of  February,  A.  D.  1585,  in  the  sixty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age.     See  Tanner,  p.  201  and  202. 

Father  Ribadeneira,  who  wrote  the  lives  of  Laynez  and 
Salmeron,  and  who  was  their  contemporary,  enumerates  the 
works  composed  by  Salmeron,  which  are  as  follow : 

I.  Liber  Prolegomenon :  a  commentary  on  the  entire 
Scriptures. 

II.  De  Incarnatione  :  on  the  incarnation  of  Christ. 

III.  De  infantiCi  et  puentid  Christi  Domini :  on  the  infan- 

cy and  cliildhood  of  Christ 

IV.  An  evangelical  history. 

V.  An  explanation  of  Christ's  sermon  on  the  Mount. 
VI.  On  the  miracles  of  Christ. 

VII.  A  treatise  on  the  parables  and  sermons  of  the  gospel. 
VIII.  De  disputationibus  Domini  :  on  Christ's  disputations. 
IX.  On  the  discourse  of  Christ  touching  the  Last  Supper, 

and  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
X.  On  the  passion  and  death  of  Christ. 
XI.  On  the  resurrection  and  ascension  of  Christ. 
XII.  On  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 
Besides  which,  he  composed  nine  books  on  the  canonical 
Epistles  of  St.  Paul,  and  the  Apocalypse. 

These  works  of  Salmeron  are  regarded  as  masterpieces  in 
point  of  lucid  composition,  learned  research,  and  theologi- 
cal argument.  His  name  ranks  among  the  most  eminent 
writers  of  the  Church  in  the  sixteenth  century. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILIA. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA. 

Nicholas  Bobadilla.— Becomes  one  of  the  nine.  Is  sent  to  the  island  of 
Ischia.  Is  destined  for  the  East  Indies,  bat  detained  by  illness.  la 
deputed  to  Germany.  Labors  at  Vienna ;  traverses  the  different  cities 
of  Germany.  Befuses  the  Episcopal  dignity.  His  zeal  at  Naples.  Is 
made  Rector  of  the  Neapolitan  College.  His  lenient  government  His 
trials.  His  submission.  His  obedience  and  other  virtues.  An  ex- 
ample to  posterity. 

In  the  year  1525,  whilst  Ignatius  was  just  com- 
mencing the  magnificent  work  of  his  Society  in 
Paris,  a  strange  youth  presented  himself,  desirous 
of  obtaining  an  interview  with  that  immortal  man. 
His  object  was  to  confide  to  his  paternal  breast 
the  story  of  his  wants  and  friendless  circumstances 
in  that  vast  metropolis,  to  which  he  had  come  with 
the  hope  of  being  able  to  prosecute  his  theological 
studies.  His  parents  had  struggled  to  provide 
him  with  the  necessary  means  ;  but  in  vain 
And  he  must  either  relinquish  the  career  on  which 


224  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

he  had  entered  with  such  buoyant  emotions,  such 
successful  anticipations,  or  he  must  meet  with  some 
true  and  sympathizing  benefactor,  whose  hand  will 
be  stretched  out  to  support  and  sustain  him  in  his 
hopeless  condition.  The  name  of  this  ingenuous 
and  aspiring  youth  was  Nicholas  Bobadilla,  a  na- 
tive of  a  village  in  Spain,  of  the  same  name,  near 
Palenza.  He  had  rendered  himself  conspicuous 
as  a  professor  of  philosophy  in  the  University  of 
Valladolid.  At  the  recital  of  his  necessitous  cir- 
cumstances, the  paternal  heart  of  Ignatius  was 
moved,  and  he  immediately  obtained  for  him  the  sum 
necessary  for  the  continuance  of  his  course  in  the 
University  of  Paris.  For  these  disinterested  fa- 
vors, Bobadilla  not  only  returned  the  most  cordial 
expressions  of  gratitude,  but  was  so  charmed  by 
the  manner  in  which  they  were  conferred,  and  con- 
ceived so  lofty  an  estimation  of  his  saintly  bene- 
factor, that  he  determined  to  rank  himself  among 
the  number  of  his  disciples,  with  Faber,  Xavier, 
and  the  others.*  Having  gone  through  all  the 
requisite  preliminaries,  he  pronounced  his  solemn 
vows  with  his  companions — as  has  been  stated 
before — on  the  festival  of  the  Assumption  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  A.  D.  1534. 

*  Orland.  lib.  i.  n.  88. 


NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA.  225 

From  the  frank  and  unaffected  disposition 
evinced  in  the  incipient  career  of  Bobadilla,  the 
reader  may  anticipate  the  character  of  his  future 
greatness.  On  the  former  was  based  the  latter ; 
and  he  is  no  less  admirable  in  the  one,  than  illus- 
trious and  ever-memorable  in  the  other.  The 
breast  that  does  not  foster  the  elements  of  can- 
dor and  ingenuousness  can  never  be  the  seat  of 
magnanimous  aspirations.  Had  Bobadilla  nursed 
in  his  the  morbid  sentiments  of  false  pride,  or  man- 
vaise  horde,  he  would  have  sunk  into  a  miserable 
state  of  apathy,  and  neither  the  history  of  the 
Church  nor  of  the  Society  would  have  treasured 
his  name,  and  enshrined  his  memory,  among  the 
great  and  saintly  apostles  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury.* 

*  "  Era  giovane,  di  quanto  e  ingegno  e  scienze  naturale 
e  divine,  fornito  piu  che  a  sufficienza.  Poi  quive  stesso  e  in 
Italia,  vennto  formandosi  nella  vita  spirituale,  sotto  la  disci- 
plina  del  Santo,  deviene  in  verita  uomo  di  riuscire  a  cose 
grandi  in  servigio  della  Chiesa :  perocche  attemperandosi  in 
lui  la  grazia  alia  natura,  come  per  questa  era  di  compessione 
focoso,  cosi  per  quella,  di  spirito  a  maraviglia  zelante ;  e  i 
tempi  che  allora  correvano  disordinatissimi  per  la  tanta 
liberta  o  del  vivere,  o  ancora  del  credere  ....  abbisogna- 
vano,  per  ammenda,  di  troppa  piu  gagliarda,  che  non  sarebbe 
mestieri  in  altra  meno  disordinata  stagione."  Bartoli,  libr. 
'ii.  p.  224. 


226  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

Ignatius,  who  with  almost  a  prophet's  intuition 
read  the  distinctive  qualities  of  his  disciples, 
descried  in  Bobadilla  the  spirit  of  conciliation  and 
peace  :  and  in  their  dispersion  over  the  world,  to 
him  was  allotted  a  mission  of  this  twofold  char- 
acter, to  the  island  of  Ischia,  in  the  kingdom  of 
Naples.  Among  certain  noble  and  powerful  person- 
ages of  that  place,  a  fatal  animosity  had  broken 
out,  which  was  as  pernicious  as  it  was  scandal- 
ous.* The  happy  result  amply  realized  the  san- 
guine presentiments  of  Ignatius  :  and,  although 
the  nature  of  these  quarrels  so  auspiciously  ad- 
justed by  Bobadilla  is  not  specified  by  our  historian, 
nevertheless,  as  that  eloquent  writer  remarks,  "  it 
afforded  an  earnest  of  his  future  tact  and  prudence, 
and  constituted  a  bright  preliminary  to  his  splendid 
achievements  in  Germany."  f 

It  was  the  manifest  disposition  of  events  by 
Divine  Providence  that  pointed  out  the  destination 
of  Bobadilla.  When  the  distant  portals  of  the 
East   were    opened    to    the   missionary   labors   of 

*  Id.  lib.  ii.  n.  79.  Bobadilla  in  JEnariam  ab  urbe  mitti- 
tui  regni  Neopolitani  insulam  ad  conciliandam  pacem  inter 
graves  illnstresque  viros. 

f  Specimen  suae  dabat  industrial  quae  postea  latissimum 
Germania  nacta  campum,  tanto  liberius  excurreret,  quanto 
jam  coni bita  vidibatur  angustiis.     Ibid.  n.  81. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  227 

the  Jesuits,  it  was  the  intention  of  Ignatius  to 
charge  him — as  one  best  fitted — with  that  mo- 
mentous trust.  With  this  view,  he  was  recalled 
from  Mnsiria,  to  Home,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1540.  Laboring,  though  he  was,  under  a 
severe  illness,  and  wasted  with  the  fatigues  of  his 
long  journey,  still  he  showed  himself  ready  and 
desirous,  at  the  command  of  Heaven,  to  depart  at 
once,  upon  the  almost  returnless  voyage  for  which 
he  was  selected.  But  the  opportunity  of  sailing 
being  urgent,  and  the  fleet  in  readiness,  ere  he 
had  time  to  recover  from  his  indisposition,  the  lot, 
which  by  human  ordination  had  been  intended  for 
him,  was,  by  Divine  interposition,  transferred  upon 
another.  No  matter  what  glorious  hopes  the  de- 
parture to  the  Indies  of  such  a  man  might  have 
kindled  up  in  the  Church,  the  splendid  and  almost 
miraculous  achievements  of  the  apostle  who  was 
substituted  in  his  place  not  only  remove  all  regret 
at  the  change,  but  afford  the  subject  of  immortal 
gratitude  to  God,  and  glory  unsurpassed  to  Francis 
Xavier.* 

Bobadilla  arrived  in  Germany,  hardly  conva- 
]escent  from  his  recent  sickness,  and  proceeded 
to  Inspruck,  where  King  Ferdinand  was  residing 

*  Id.  n.  88. 


228  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

with  his  children.  There,  forgetful  of  his  weak 
ness,  with  intrepid  zeal,  he  began  his  laborious 
career,  and  by  his  private  conferences  with  the 
nobles,  as  well  as  the  other  public  functions 
of  the  ministry,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  sal- 
vation of  the  people.  The  court  being,  after- 
wards, transferred  to  Vienna,  he  obtained  access 
to  the  sovereign  himself,  by  whom  he  was  re- 
ceived with  a  gracious  welcome,  and  encouraged 
to  continue  his  exertions  for  the  cause  of  reli- 
gion. Wherefore,  he  resumed,  with  renewed 
fervor,  his  public  instructions,  and  the  other 
functions  of  the  mission.  He  preached,  gave 
lectures  explanatory  of  the  ancient  faith,  cate- 
chised the  young  and  ignorant,  devoted  hours, 
stolen  from  his  almost  incessant  occupations,  to 
the  confessional,  and  thus  effected  many  conver- 
sions, even  among  Jews  and  Turks.  What 
added  the  crown  to  all  his  other  actions,  was 
the  fortunate  effect  of  his  conference  with  the 
king,  who,  animated  by  his  vigorous  and  ardent 
expostulations,  supported  the  cause  of  religion, 
and  prevented  the  evil  which  menaced  it  at 
Ratisbonne.*  So  intimately  did  he  possess  the 
favor    and    friendship    of   the    monarch,   that    at 

*  Lib.  iii.  n.  64. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  229 

Vienna,  whither  he  was  ordered  to  follow  the 
court,  he  was  not  permitted  to  leave  it ;  but 
became  the  cherished  and  venerated  inmate  of 
the  palace.* 

Whilst  engaged  in  the  rigid  and  multifarious 
offices  of  his  ministry,  in  that  great  capital  ; 
whilst,  with  potent  and  eloquent  energy,  he  main- 
tained and  vindicated  the  tenets  of  the  holy  Cath- 
olic Church,  he  was  suddenly  challenged  by  a 
famous  Lutheran  doctor  to  a  controversial  encoun- 
ter. The  source  from  which  it  emanated — the 
standing  of  the  individual  who  stood  forth  as  his 
antagonist — the  circumstances  of  his  own  position 
— the  public  expectation — the  offended  majesty 
of  Truth — the  honor  of  the  Priesthood  —  the 
i  character  of  the  Society — rendered  it  necessary 
i  ">r  him  to  set  aside  the  strong  repugnance, 
in  ordinary  cases,  of  publicly  meeting  on  the 
arena  of  dogmatic  disputation  a  presumptuous  op- 
ponent. There  are  times,  when,  for  a  Divine, 
thoroughly  competent  to  the  task,  to  refuse  the 
contest,  would  be  as  deserving  of  reproach,  as  for 
a  person  not  perfectly  armed  with  the  weapons  of 
learning  and  moderation  to  accept,  under  any  cir- 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  27.  In  Regis  curia  commorabatur  aeqne 
earns,  utilisque  proceribus. 

20 


230  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

cumstances.  The  former  produces  striking  and 
solemn  good  :  the  latter  generates  mischief,  and 
leaves  no  other  impression  on  the  public  conviction, 
but  that  of  temerity  and  defeat. 

Bobadilla  was  driven  upon  the  arena  ;  but  not 
without  feeling  himself  equal  to  the  conspicuous 
and,  generally,  dangerous  attempt.  He  was  actu- 
ated by  no  ostentatious  desire  of  exhibiting  his 
powers  of  elocution,  or  his  abilities  for  argument, 
or  his  research  and  erudition.  There  was  mixed  in 
his  pure  motives  no  alloy  of  vain-glory,  no  secret 
self-complacency.  His  were  the  motives  of  an 
apostle — a  germane  disciple  of  Ignatius — an  humble 
follower  of  Jesus  :  and  impelled  by  these,  and  these 
alone,  how  could  he  come  off  from  the  field  of  con- 
troversy otherwise  than  victorious,  and  by  common 
consent,  covered  and  graced  with  the  laurels  of 
triumph  ? 

The  personage  by  whom  the  gauntlet  was  thrown 
at  Bobadilla's  feet  was  a  fautor  of  Lutheranism, 
more  distinguished  by  the  nobility  of  his  birth 
than  by  the  sincerity  of  his  faith.  He  held  the 
rank  of  the  King's  Counsellor,  but  since  his  defec- 
tion from  the  ancient  faith  was  looked  upon  with 
unfavorable  eyes  by  the  monarch.  Envious  of  the 
favor  and  friendship  displayed  by  the  court  to- 
wards Bobadilla,  this  disaffected  nobleman  did  not 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  231 

hesitate  to  declare  that  he  was  willing  to  argue 
the  subject  of  religion  with  that  celebrated  Jesuit 
in  presence  of  arbiters  and  judges  ;  avowing,  that 
should  they  decide  against  him,  he  would  be  wil- 
ling to  submit :  if  in  his  favor,  that  he  should  be 
allowed  to  hold  his  station  in  court,  and  to  persist 
in  his  doctrines.* 

The  king  assented  to  the  proposition,  nominated 
seven  judges,  and  summoned  Bobadilla  to  the  con- 
test. The  occasion  precluded  the  possibility  of  his 
refusing  to  obey  the  summons.  No  alternative 
was  left  to  his  discretion,  no  choice  permitted  to 
his  judgment.  The  sacred  cause  of  religion  de- 
manded his  defence.  The  enthusiasm  of  the  nobles 
was  excited  on  the  subject.  The  king  called  upon 
him  as  the  champion  of  the  Church,  and  the  city 
was  in  suspense  to  witness  the  important  spectacle. 
In  God  did  Bobadilla  place  his  trust ;  his  heart 
yearned  for  the  salvation  of  the  sheep  that  had 
wandered  from  the  fold  of  Christ,  and,  with  the 
hope  of  bringing  back  at  least  some  of  the  number, 
he  presented  himself,  at  the  call  of  the  monarch, 
upon  the  arena,  before  his  stern  antagonist.  The 
king  and  most  of  the   nobles  were   spectators  to 

*  Id.  n.  27.    The  description  of  this  controversy  is  admi- 
rably detailed  in  the  above  reference.     See  it  passim. 


232  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

the  novel  scene,  hanging  on  the  disputation  viif 
intense  anxiety  for  the  even*  The  controversy 
soon  waxed  ardent  and  vehement.  Argument 
was  met  by  argument,  authority  by  authority, 
But  as  the  power  of  truth — vindicated  as  it  was' 
by  the  athleta  of  orthodoxy — could  not  be  cloven 
down  by  any  violence  of  error  ;  nor  its  majesty 
be  tarnished  by  the  conceits  and  inventions  of 
human  opinion ;  nor  its  identification  with  the 
Holy,  Apostolic,  and  Roman  Church  be  severed 
apart  by  the  logic  of  calumny  or  aspersion ;  the 
disputation  was  necessarily  of  very  brief  duration. 
Vanity  was  crushed  by  verity  ;  the  impiety  of  the 
disciple  of  Luther,  by  the  orthodoxy  of  the  disciple 
of  Ignatius,  who  detected  and  confuted  not  less 
than  fifty  heresies  in  the  doctrines  of  his  adversary. 
The  vain  apologist  of  Lutheranism  was  silenced 
and  confounded,  and,  by  unanimous  acclamation, 
Bobadilla  was  hailed  as  his  unquestionable  vic- 
tor.* 

But  still,  with  his  stake,  it  cannot  be  supposed 
that  the  Lutheran  admitted  his  defeat.  He  had 
more  to  say — therefore  he  imagined  his  argument- 
ative ammunition  had  not  given  out :  his  store  of 

*  Bellus  igitur  Lutheri  sectator,  et  tali  dignus  magistro. 
omnium  calculis,  suffragiisque  damnatur.    Id.  ibid. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  233 

misrepresentation  had  not  been  exhausted — conse- 
quently he  did  not  feel  himself  bound  by  the  obli- 
gation he  had  made,  but  forgotten — or,  rather,  dis- 
regarded. On  the  contrary,  to  defeat  he  added 
pervicacity  ;  and  to  error,  perfidy.  The  equitable 
sentence  of  the  umpires  touching  his  erroneous 
doctrines  he  obstinately  rejected,  charged  them 
with  perjury,  pertinaciously  affirmed  that  he  would 
never  change  his  opinions,  nor  be  any  other  than  he 
had  always  been, — the  uncompromising  enemy  of 
the  Ancient  Religion.* 

The  king,  astonished  not  so  much  at  the  perti- 
nacity as  at  the  impudence  of  the  man,  who  had 
drawn  up  his  own  conditions  for  the  controversy, 
and  now  refused  to  abide  honorably  by  them,  ban- 
ished him  from  court,  and  condemned  him  to  be  shut 
up  within  the  inclosure  of  a  monastery.  There, 
stung  with  remorse,  and  impatient  of  the  disgrace 
he  had  brought  upon  himself,  with  his  own  hands 
he  attempted  to  put  an  end  to  his  existence.  The 
wound,  however — and  most  providentially  and  mer- 


*  Ibid.  Was  not  this  disputant  an  accomplished  exem- 
plar of  thousands  of  more  recent  date  ?  Professing  to  be 
open  to  conviction,  and  sincere  in  the  inquiry  after  truth  ; 
and  yet  obstinate  when  convinced,  and,  with  a  spiteful  em- 
brace, hugging  error  to  their  bosoms. 

20* 


234:  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

cifully  was  the  escape  ordained — did  not  inconti- 
nently prove  fatal.  Mercifully,  indeed,  was  this 
designed  by  Providence  :  for,  from  the  stroke 
which  was  intended  to  produce  death,  life  and  safety 
sprang.  Weltering  in  his  blood,  he  beheld  the 
light  of  heaven  shining  upon  his  dark  and  despe- 
rate spirit.  Instantly  all  was  changed.  His  ob- 
stinacy relented  ;  his  conscience  was  wrung  with 
sorrow  for  his  crime  ;  he  repented,  retracted  his 
errors,  and  submitted,  with  humble  acquiescence,  to 
the  venerable  Church  from  whose  pale  he  had  wan- 
dered, and  to  whose  bosom  he  now  came  back,  to 
die — a  sincere  penitent,  and  a  signal  object  of  the 
Divine  clemency.* 

Meantime,  the  Diet  was  now  in  session  at  Nu- 
remberg, at  which,  in  order  to  protect  the  rights  of 
religion,  the  Bishop  of  Caserta  was  present  as  Apos- 
tolic Nuncio.  Bobadilla,  whose  fame  the  recent  dis- 
putation had  spread  to  the  extreme  limits  of  the 
empire,  accompanied  that  prelate,  and,  through 
deep  snows  and  the  dangers  of  pestilence,  pro- 
ceeded in  safety  to  the  destined  place.  By  his 
counsel  and  prudence  the  Nuncio  was  governed 
and  directed  in  the  Diet  :  and  although  his  stay 
there  was  brief,  the  unremitting  zeal  of  Bobadilla 

*  Id.  ibid. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  235 

prompted  him  to  scour  the  whole  city,  and  visit  all 
the  churches.  In  his  missionary  functions  he  was 
consoled  to  perceive,  that  the  clergy  were  more 
regular  and  less  dissolute  than  in  some  other 
places,  and  bound  by  a  stronger  chain  to  the  reli- 
gion of  their  ancestors.  To  the  city  of  Nuremberg, 
and  that  whole  district  of  Germany,  his  exertions 
proved  of  infinite  advantage.  With  the  Lutheran 
minister — there  was  but  one  in  the  city — he  be- 
came familiar,  and  won  over  his  confidence  and 
friendship  to  such  a  degree,  that  there  was  every 
reason  to  hope,  could  he  have  remained  longer  in 
the  city,  that  he  would  have  brought  over  to  the 
true  faith  that  individual,  in  character  and  sentiment 
totally  different  from  the  cunning  and  refractory 
Bucer.*  But  after  the  rising  of  the  Diet — the  ses- 
sion was  short — he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Vienna 
with  the  Nuncio,  where  he  was  greeted  by  the 
king  and  court,  and  received  with  no  ordinary  de- 

*  Id.  n.  28.  Of  this  minister  Orlandinus  asserts,  that  he 
possessed  "  facile,  et  ad  bonum  omne  flexibile  ingenium." 
The  same  author  styles  Bucer,  "  vafrum  atque  prsefractum. ' 
Wherever  good  and  noble  qualities  exist,  the  Catholic,  care- 
fully separating  them  from  the  errors  of  the  individual,  will 
be  the  first  to  acknowledge  and  praise  them.  Charity  for. 
bids  him  to  believe  that  every  teacher  of  erroneous  doctrini 
Is  perversely  insincere. 


236  NICHOLAS   BOBADILIA. 

mons  'rations  of  honor.  To  narrate  all  that  he  did 
in  that  grand  metropolis  for  the  advancement  of 
God's  glory,  would  be  an  exhaustless  task  :  one 
thing,  however,  must  be  mentioned, — that  a  noble 
German  of  very  high  distinction,  who  had,  during 
many  years  past,  been  not  only  neglectful  of  the 
sacraments,  but  also  notorious  for  his  depraved 
habits  of  conduct,  and  who  had  withstood  the  re- 
monstrances of  the  king,  as  well  as  the  frequent 
solicitations  of  his  friends,  was  brought  to  yield 
to  one  single  conference  with  Bobadilla,  and  to  em- 
brace a  Christian  mode  of  life.* 

His  sojourn  at  Vienna  was  not  long.  Another 
Diet  was  convened  at  Spires,  and  thither  he  was 
sent,  to  accompany  the  Bishop  of  Passau,  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  monarch,  as  one  so  generally 
known  to  Catholics  and  Protestants,  and  whose 
prudence  and  counsel  would  greatly  benefit  the 
public  weal.  The  prelate,  aided  by  the  wisdom 
of  the  Father,  having  succeeded  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  king,  petitioned  that  Bobadilla  might 
be  permitted  to  visit  Passau.  The  request  was 
granted  ;  and  the  magnanimous  Jesuit  plunged  at 
once,  as  it  were,  into  the  centre  of  that  diocese 
and,  with   his  wonted   ardor,  performed  inestima- 

m  ■  ■■■■■■■  ■——...  —i    ■■— ,  — — — — 0 

*  Id.  n.  29. 


NICHOLAS  BOB  AD  ILL  A.  237 

ble  good.  The  prelate,  aware  of  the  influence  and 
authority  that  he  exercised  over  the  people,  made 
abundam  use  of  them  both  ;  and  would  have  taken 
him  again  to  another  Diet  at  Spires,  to  assist,  by  his 
erudition  and  experience,  the  assembled  bishops 
who  were  to  consult  for  the  sacred  cause  of  religion. 
This  distinction  he  did  not  accept,  on  the  ground 
that  it  could  not  be  conferred  except  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff.  Accordingly,  he 
remained  at  Passau,  engaged  in  the  functions  of 
the  holy  ministry  ;  when  the  honor,  which  he  dared 
not  admit  when  proffered  by  the  Bishops,  was  sud- 
denly forced  upon  him  by  the  Cardinal  Alexander 
Farnesius,  then  Legate  of  the  Holy  See  at  Spires. 
With  the  genuine  spirit  of  his  order,  he  obeyed, 
and  took  his  place  in  that  august  Convention 
among  the  great  and  wise.  To  the  king  and  court 
this  circumstance  afforded  special  satisfaction, 
whilst,  at  the  same  time,  it  was  peculiarly  bene- 
ficial to  the  cause  of  truth,  which  he  vindicated  by 
his  sacred  eloquence,  and  illustrated  by  his  saint- 
like example.* 


*  Inspruck,  Spires,  Cologne,  Worms,  Nuremberg,  and 
other  cities,  which  were  exposed  to  be  infected  with  the  Lu 
theran  heresies,  were  saved  by  his  preaching,  conferences, 
and  all-embracing  zeal ;   looking  for  no   earthly   reward, 


238  NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA. 

The  Diet  having  broken  up,  there  ensued  a  con* 
tention  among  the  prelates,  which  of  them  should 
take  to  his  diocese  this  extraordinary  man.  But  as 
he  came  with  the  Bishop  of  Passau,  with  him  he 
proposed  to  return — and  thence  again  to  Vienna, 
whither  the  king  had  also  repaired.*  There,  be- 
sides his  accustomed  sermons,  he  studied,  with  the 
co-operation  of  the  monarch,  to  regulate  the  man- 
ners of  the  pastors  and  doctors  according  to  the 
norma  of  ancient  discipline  ;  but  nothing  would  he 
undertake  without  the  approbation,  likewise,  of  the 
bishops,  whose  authority  he  strenuously  asserted, 
and  whose  character  he  invariably  held  up  to  the 
highest  veneration  of  the  faithful.f  On  this  ac- 
count, when  the  king  addressed  him  a  letter  from 
Passau,  requesting  him  to  visit  the  monasteries  of 
Austria,  he  freely  replied,  that  he  could  not,  without 


spurning  honors,  and  using  the  glory  of  the  court  of  Fer- 
dinand and  Charles  V.  "  as  if  he  used  them  not :"  living 
always  under  the  simple  and  holy  influence  of  his  vocation. 
"  Spregiator,"  writes  Bartoli,  "  degli  onori,  e  quel  che  solo 
gli  rimaneva,  ancor '  della  propria  vita  in  pro  della  vita 
eterna  de  prossimi."  (P.  225.)  What  more  perfect  char- 
acter could  be  portrayed  for  the  admiration  of  the  world, 
and  the  honor  of  the  Society,  which  he  loved  as  his  mother  f 

*  Id.  n.  114, 115,  116. 

f  Id.  n.  116. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  239 

the  consent  of  the  prelates.  And  again,  when 
nominated  by  the  same  power  to  attend  at  the  fa- 
mous Synod  of  Worms,  he  declined  to  comply,  un- 
til the  nomination  was  sanctioned  by  the  Holy 
See  ;  at  whose  bidding  he  departed  without  delay, 
and  acted  a  part  in  that  Convention  which  added 
fresh  laurels  to  his  fame,  and  reflected  new  lustre 
upon  the  Society  of  Jesus. 

To  Worms  he  was  duly  deputed  with  the  Apos- 
tolic Nuncio,  Jerome  Verallo  :  Jaius,  his  compan- 
ion, having  accompanied  the  Bishop  of  Augs- 
burg. Baffled  in  his  efforts,  disappointed  in  his 
hopes,  of  consolidating  the  elements  of  religion  at 
Ratisbonne,  Nuremberg,  and  Spires,  Ferdinand 
persuaded  himself  that  the  object  might  ultimately 
be  attained  at  Worms.  But,  unfortunately,  up  to 
this  date  (it  had  been  convened  a  year  before),  no 
salutary  purpose  was  achieved  :  no  efficacious 
barrier  was  raised  against  the  inroads,  no  sanatory 
antidote  prescribed  against  the  errors,  of  Luther- 
anism.  In  the  effectuation  of  this  twofold  object, 
all  the  vigilance,  all  the  energies  of  Bobadilla  were 
called  up.  With  unbending  determination  he  stood 
forth  in  vindication  of  the  Church,  laboriously  care- 
ful to  prevent  any  thing — in  a  Council  at  which 
were  present  the  emperor  and  his  brother  Ferdi- 
nand, together  with  a  large  number  of  noblemen— 


240  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

from  escaping,  that  might  be,  in  the  least,  injurious 
to  the  orthodoxy  of  the  ancient  faith,  or  the  majesty 
of  the  Holy  See.  But  despite  his  powerful  co- 
operation and  that  of  his  associate  Jaius,  the 
Council,  though  prolonged,  had  not  the  happy  ter- 
mination that  had  been  anticipated.  Nothing,  how- 
ever, was  decreed  against  the  Catholic  Church 
nor  was  the  proposal  of  the  Lutherans  admitted, 
to  have  a  National  Convention,  although  they  were 
more  numerous  and  more  powerful  than  the  ortho- 
dox.* 


*  Lib.  v.  n.  28,  29,  30,  31.  All  these  Diets  of  Germany 
ended  unfortunately.  That  of  Spires  had  passed  a  decree, 
banishing  from  the  dominions  all  the  Sacramentarians  and 
Anabaptists  ;  restoring  the  celebration  of  Mass,  and  requir- 
ing that  the  gospels  should  be  explained  according  to  the 
interpretation  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Church.  Against  this 
decree  the  Lutherans  protested,  as  contrary  to  Evangelical 
liberty  ;  and  hence  they  derived  the  name  of  Protestants. 

This  protestation  was  confirmed,  in  the  Diet  of  Augsburg, 
by  the  aid — powerful  indeed — of  Melancthon,  in  the  Articles 
presented  to  Charles  V.,  commonly  called  the  "  Confession 
of  Augsburg."  This  was  subscribed  by  all  the  Lutheran 
Princes  in  Germany,  who  afterwards  formed  a  league  at 
Smalkald,  to  defend  their  sect  by  force  of  arms.  Alarmed 
by  this  confederacy  on  one  hand,  and  the  formidable  power 
of  the  Turks  now  menacing  him  on  the  other,  the  emperor 
convened  the  Diet  of  Ratisbonne  ;  where  he  entered  into  a 


NICHOLAS  BOBAD1LLA.  241 

It  pleased  God,  however,  whose  providence 
often  draws  good  from  evil,  to  turn  this  Synod  to  a 
favorable  account,  in  a  twofold  manner :  first, 
by  inducing  the  emperor,  who  had  a  fair  opportu- 
nity of  testing  the  obstinacy  and  impracticability 
of  the  Dissenters,  to  restrain  and  repress  them 
more  effectually  than  before.  Secondly,  by  stimu- 
lating the  zeal  and  solicitude  of  the  pastors  them- 
selves, who  having  witnessed  the  arts  and  re- 
sources of  so  many  "wolves  in  sheep's  clothing," 
rendered  them  more  vigilant  over  the  flock  com- 
mitted to  their  sacred  care. 

In  the  year  1546,  Bobadilla — then  laboring  at 

kind  of  armistice  with  the  Lutherans,  by  issuing  a  procla- 
mation forbidding  any  one  to  be  molested  in  religious  mat- 
ters, until  the  General  Council  should  be  convoked.  It  was 
held  at  Trent ;  but  its  authority  and  decrees  were  set  aside 
and  opposed  by  those  very  men  who,  at  first,  affected  to  be 
willing  to  submit  to  both. 

It  should  be  carefully  remarked  and  remembered,  that  the 
recourse  to  arms  was  the  act  of  the  Protestant  princes ;  de- 
termined to  propagate  their  opinions  by  violence.  At  the 
"head  of  this  league  were  John  Frederick,  Duke  of  Saxony, 
and  Philip,  Landgrave  of  Hesse.  The  particulars  of  this 
religious  war — in  which  the  emperor  was  victorious — are 
related  by  Sleiden,  libr.  xvii.,  xviii.,  and  xix.  See  Natalis 
Alexander,  Select.  Hist.  Eccles.  cap.  &c.  &c.,  torn.  24. 
Dissert.  Saec.  xvi.  p.  245. 

21 


242  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

Cologne  for  the  salvation  of  souls — was  again  re» 
quired  to  accompany  the  king,  to  whom  he  was 
very  dear,  to  the  city  of  Ratisbonne,  where  an- 
other Synod  had  convened.  The  object  of  this 
Synod  was  to  conciliate,  if  possible,  the  Protest- 
ants, and  prepare  them  to  recognize  the  (Ecumen- 
ical Council  of  Trent,  already  convoked,  but  not 
by  them  admitted  as  such.  Of  this  Synod,  all  the 
acts  were  to  be  referred  to  the  General  Council.* 
Besides  the  other  occupations  of  Bobadilla,  he 
found  time  to  compose  a  work  entitled  "  On  the 
Conscience  of  a  Christian,"  which,  on  appointed 
days,  he  explained  in  a  series  of  discourses,  in  the 
Latin  tongue,  to  a  numerous  concourse  of  learned 
and  noble  men, — Germans,  Italians,  French,  and 
Spaniards.f 

The  licentious  doctrine  on  which  Luther  had 
erected  the  superstructure  of  the  miscalled  Re 
formation  was  the  assumed  and  arrogant  right  oi 
Private  Judgment.  Had  this  pretension  confined 
itself  within  the  boundaries  of  dogmatic  theories, 
the  evil  might  have  required  no  other  check  but 
that  of  the  spiritual  sword  :  but  the  state  began 
to  suffer  from  it  ;  the  peace  of  the  nation,  the  es 
tablished  order  and  system  of  government,  the  insti 

*  Lib.  vi.  n.  53,  51  t  Id.  ibid. 


NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA.  243 

tutions,  which  had,  from  immemorial  ages,  been 
regarded  and  respected  by  the  people,  were  seri- 
ously menaced.  If  a  set  of  theological  dema- 
gogues, acting  under  the  unrestrained  influence  of 
Private  Judgment,  would  throw  into  confusion, 
and  even  subvert,  the  elements  and  foundations  of 
religion  ;  driven  on  by  the  same  wild  impulse,  and 
shielding  their  lawless  passions  under  the  same 
vaunted  segis  of  human  liberty,  they  will  not  fail 
to  disorganize  and  destroy  the  social  and  political 
institutions  of  government.  The  emperor,  unable 
to  preserve  the  ancient  order  and  secure  the  peace 
of  Germany  by  legislative  decrees,  or  tolerant  offers 
of  conciliation,  was  compelled  to  unsheath  the  tem- 
poral sword,  and  declare  war  against  the  domestic 
enemies  of  their  country.* 

Bobadilla,  who  had  so  often  contended  for  the 
Faith  on  the  arena  of  controversy  and  theological 
dispute,  was  now,  contrary  to  his  pacific  disposi- 
tions, but  in  obedience  to  the  will  of  his  superiors, 
destined  to  mingle  in  the  tumult  and  horrors  of  the 
camp.  Not,  indeed,  himself  to  wield  the  sword, 
but  to  dispense  the  consolations  of  religion,  to  en- 
courage the  despondent,  to  absolve  the  penitent,  to 

*  The  reader  must  not  forget  the  league  of  Smalkald ; 
tnd  the  tolerant  enactments  of  the  Diet  of  Ratisbonne. 


244  NICHOLAS   BOBAD1LLA. 

attend  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  to  watch  o^ei 
the  dying,  and  bury  the  dead.  By  the  Cardinal 
Farnesius  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  hospi- 
tal, within  whose  walls  the  bodies  of  the  wounded 
and  dying  were  brought.  With  such  wasting  and 
intense  solicitude  he  devoted  himself  to  these 
offices  of  mercy,  that  he  sank  under  their  pressure, 
and  was  prostrated  with  illness.  And  yet,  when 
unable  to  stand  erect  upon  his  feet,  from  debility, 
he  might  be  seen  creeping  from  bed  to  bed,  ad- 
ministering consolation  and  the  sacraments  to  the 
wretched  victims,  and  unhappy  himself  only  from 
not  being  able  to  afford  all  the  aid  and  attention 
which  his  generous  heart  desired  to  bestow.  Tc 
him,  whose  soul  was  burning  with  charity,  noth 
ing  was  difficult,  nothing  arduous.  My  pen  cannot 
describe  his  fervor  in  exhorting,  his  gentleness  in 
reproving,  his  assiduity  in  hearing  confessions,  his 
patience,  resignation,  humility,  and  cheerfulness  in 
all  things.* 

On  his  route  back  to  Ratisbonne,  Heaven  gave 
him  an  opportunity  of  adding  to  the  store  of  his 
loDg  suffering  and  mortification  which  he  had  ac- 
cumulated in  the  camp.  He  was  captured  by  rob- 
bers, despoiled  of  all  his  effects,  severely  beaten, 

Id.  n.  55,  56. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  245 

and  perhaps  would  have  been  murdered  had  he  not 
been  rescued  by  three  Italians  who  accidentally 
happened  to  pass  that  way.*  But  the  faithful 
servant  of  God  was  not  without  the  highest  re- 
ward— for  the  estimation  of  his  sovereign,  and 
the  favor  of  the  Holy  See,  might,  in  truth,  be 
thus  denominated.  Indeed,  as  far  as  the  inmost 
acknowledgment  of  the  value  of  both  could  extend, 
he  felt  that  they  were  no  common  remuneration, 
and  he  was  grateful.  But  when,  as  a  testification 
of  the  one  and  the  other,  the  emperor  held  out  the 
mitre  to  his  acceptance,  he  shrank  from  the  dig- 
nity with  characteristic  greatness  of  soul,  and 
replied,  "that  he  had  been  called  by  God  to  the 
Society  of  Jesus,  not  to  receive  honors  and  dis- 
tinctions, but  to  practise  poverty,  and  lead  a  life 
of  humility."  f 

It  was  the  desire  of  Ferdinand  to  appoint  Boba- 
dilla  as  a  theologian  in  the  Council  of  Trent,  but 
finding  his  services  so  indispensable  in  the  camp, 
he  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  remove  him.     Mean- 

*  Id.  n.  57. 

f  Testatus  se  a  Deo  non  ad  honorem  et  amplitudinem, 
sed  ad  paupertatis  humilitatem  obscuranique  potius  vitam 
ftrisse  vocatum.  Id.  n.  58.  Who  now  will  presume  to 
assert,  that  the  followers  of  Ignatius  were  ambitious  and 
power-loving  men  ? 

21* 


24:6  NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA. 

while,  the  justice  of  Heaven,  as  if  conspiring  with 
the  efforts  of  the  monarch  and  the  solicitude  of  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff,  fell  suddenly  and  heavily  upon 
the  author  of  all  the  calamities  and  errors  which 
afflicted  and  agitated  both  Church  and  State. 
Luther,  the  apostate  monk,  after  indulging  freely 
and  gayly  in  the  luxuries  of  a  supper,  and  spend- 
ing the  evening,  as  he  was  wont,  to  a  very  late 
hour  in  amusement,  was  seized  with  a  mortal  ill- 
ness, during  the  night,  and  plunged  into  eternity.* 

*  Orlandinus,  in  speaking  of  this  event,  makes  use  of  very 
strong,  and,  to  the  superficial  admirer  of  Luther,  very  harsh 
language.  But  he  speaks  as  a  faithful  historian,  a  contem- 
porary, and  under  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  facts  and 
circumstances  connected  with  his  pretended  Reformation. 
The  best  modern  writers  on  this  subject,  even  among  Pro- 
testants, agree,  in  the  main  points,  with  Orlandinus :  and 
concur  with  him  in  the  conviction,  that  Martin  Luther  was 
a  scourge  to  religion,  and  a  man  disgraced  with  the  worst 
crimes.  In  confirmation  of  this,  we  need  refer  only  to  his 
own  contemporaries  and  fellow-reformers.  Hospinian  de- 
clared that  he  was  absolutely  mad  :  that  "  he  combated 
truth  against  all  justice,  and  against  the  cry  of  his  own 
conscience." 

CEcolampadius  affirmed  that  he  was  "puffed  up  with 
pride  and  arrogance,  and  seduced  by  Satan." 

Zuinglius  averred,  that  "the  Devil  had  made  himself 
master  of  Luther  to  such  a  degree,  as  to  make  one  believe 
that  he  wished  to  gain  entire  possession  of  him-" 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  247 

But  alas  !  the  evil  which  he  occasioned  did  not 
expire  with  him.  The  seed  of  error  and  disunion 
which  his  recreant  hands  scattered  over  the  field 
of  the  Church  took  root,  deep  root,  and  the  fruit 
was  bitter  and  noxious  indeed.  The  storm  of  the 
Reformation  had  raged  violently  in  Germany,  and, 
in  its  fury,  overturned  many  of  the  time-honored 
and  consecrated  institutions  of  Catholic  antiquity. 
11  Everywhere,"  exclaims  Orlandinus,  "  we  behold 
altars  laid  low,  monasteries  desecrated  and  de- 
stroyed, sacred  things  profaned,  and  the  dire  ves- 
tiges of  the  most  horrible  crimes  impressed  upon 
the  fairest  portions  of  Europe.  Wherefore,"  he 
adds,  "  it  becomes  our  members  to  unite  their 
strongest  energies  in  order  to  extirpate,  if  possible, 
the  fatal  evil ;  for  they  may  rest  assured  that  a 
war  has  only  commenced  against  the  Catholic 
Church  which  will  continue  for  ages."* 

A  veridical  prophet  has  he,  unfortunately,  proved. 
Three   centuries  have  witnessed   the   fatal   battle 

Calvin  said  that  Luther  had  done  nothing  to  the  pur- 
pose   called  his  school  a  pigsty,  addressed  him  with 

the  courteous  epithet  of  dog,  madman,  huge  beast,  &c.,  &c. 
See  the  "  Amicable  Discussion,"  torn.  i.  p.  69,  70. 

*  Id.  n.  59.  Here  is  the  secret  of  the  enmity  of  Protes- 
tantism to  the  Society  of  Jesus,  which  was  established  foi 
the  avowed  purpose  of  warring  against  its  errors. 


248  NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA. 

which  the  spirit  of  the  Reformation  has  been  carry- 
ing on  against  the  spirit  of  Truth  and  Union :  a 
battle  which  has  covered  the  world  with  devasta- 
tion, crimsoned  nations  with  blood,  retarded  the 
advancement  of  light,  letters,  morals,  civilization, 
and  liberty.  This  is  no  exaggerated  or  unjustifi- 
able language.  The  entire  world  begins  to  feel 
its  truth,  while  the  most  learned  and  candid  Pro- 
testants themselves  deplore  the  event,  as  uncalled 
for  and  unnecessary,  and  fraught  with  miserable 
consequences.*  Would  to  God,  that  they  who 
have  begun  to  trace  back  their  way  to  the  an- 
cient Catholic  Church,  may  not  desist  from  their 
labors  until  they  bring  about  a  perfect  union  with 
the  Supreme  Head  on  earth,  the  Vicar  of  Jesus 
Christ  ! 

The  war  in  Germany  had  now  ceased.  The 
Duke  of  Saxony  and  the  landgrave  had  yielded  to 
the  victorious  power  of  the  emperor,  and  the  Cath- 
olic cause  began  to  nourish  anew.  Bobadilla's 
zeal  glowed  out  with  intense  fervor.  At  Passau, 
he  preached,  during  Lent,  in  the  Latin  language, 
in  presence  of  the  amiable  prelate  ;  and  exerted 
all  his  eloquence,  likewise,  at  Ratisbonne,  where 
many  of  the  senators   and  citizens  were  infected 

*  See  Ward's  "  Ideal  of  a  Christian  Churcli" 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  249 

with  the  Lutheran  errors.  Such  was  the  efficacy 
of  his  discourses,  that  he  obtained  a  public  and 
solemn  celebration  in  thanksgiving  for  the  em- 
peror's triumph  over  the  enemies  of  the  Church  aud 
empire,  and  effected  the  restoration  of  many  Cath- 
olic ceremonies  which  had  so  long  been  suspend- 
ed.* To  build  up  again  what  had  been  overturned 
and  ruined  by  the  fury  of  the  Reformation,  he  went 
from  place  to  place,  visited  church  after  church, 
remaining  stationary  nowhere,  but,  like  a  true 
Apostle,  and  a  true  Jesuit,  fulfilling  his  vocation 
by  traversing  various  parts  for  the  promotion  of 
God's  greater  glory.f  Checked  in  his  ardent  course 
by  the  hand  of  sickness,  he  returned  to  Vienna, 
where  Religion  had  resumed  her  pristine  reign  and 
ancient  magnificence. 

At  Cologne,  too,  a  fairer  aspect  began  to  ap- 
pear :  Hermannus,  the  long  vacillating,  but,  at 
length,  unfaithful  Bishop,  was  driven  from  his  see. 
In  a  former  chapter,  I  had  occasion  to  bring  this 
personage  before  the  reader's  attention,  and  to 
show  how  lubriciously  he  had  comported  himself 


*  Lib.  vii.  n.  39. 

f  "  Nostra  vocationis  est  diversa  loca  peragrare,"  is  one 
i>f  the  cardinal  maxims  of  the  Society,  embodied  by  Ignatius 
in  his  general  rules. 


250  NICHOLAS   BOBADILLA. 

in  his  relation  with  Peter  Faber.*  He  now  threw 
off  the  mask,  and  avowed  himself  a  Lutheran.  In 
consequence  of  which  apostasy,  he  was  deposed 
and  degraded  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff ;  and  in  his 
place  was  substituted  Adolphus,  of  the  ancient 
family  of  the  Counts  of  Scaueburg,  a  man  adorned 
with  great  personal  qualifications,  and  a  staunch 
asserter  of  the  religion  of  his  ancestors.  With  his 
exertions,  Bobadilla,  and  the  Society  generally,  co- 
operated firmly  ;  and,  with  the  blessing  of  Heaven, 
they  produced^  in  a  short  time,  a  general  change 
throughout  the  German  empire.f  Bobadilla,  whilst 
he  did  not  cease  preaching  to  the  Spanish  and 
Italian  courtiers,  or  relax  his  devotion  to  the 
duties  of  the  confessional,  found  leisure  to  compose 
several  works  on  religious  subjects.  By  the  nobil- 
ity he  was  emulously  sought  after  ;  for  they  felt 
convinced,  that  if  ever  his  labors  had  been  neces- 
sary, they  were,  perhaps,  more  necessary  this 
year  than  ever  ;  when,  after  the  victory  obtained 
over  the  Lutheran  insurgents,  many  of  the  minis- 
ters and  leaders,  even  in  Saxony,  evinced  a  desire 
to  return  to  the  ancient  faith.  The  number  of 
those  who  abjured  their  errors  is,  indeed,  extra- 
ordinary.    Two  of  the  electors,  being  at  Augsburg 

*  See  Chap.  ii.  f  lab.  vii.  n.  40. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  251 

with  their  wives,  during  Lent,  assisted  during"  the 
whole  of  that  penitential  season  at  the  solemni- 
ties of  the  Church.  One  of  them — the  Elector  of 
Brandeburg — forbade  the  use  of  flesh-meat  in  his 
dominions  ;  in  conformity  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Church,  ordered  the  re-establishment  of  confes- 
sions, the  frequentation  of  the  Eucharist,  and  pro- 
mised to  restore,  in  due  time,  all  the  other  religious 
ordinances  and  practices  which  the  Reformation 
had  ruthlessly  swept  away  from  the  land.  The 
example  of  the  orthodox — especially  of  the  Span- 
ish and  Italian  nobles — was  of  great  advantage  to 
the  Germans.  In  vast  numbers,  and  with  extreme 
fervor,  did  they  crowd  to  the  Lenten  exercises,  and 
perform  acts  of  severe  mortification,  to  the  aston- 
ishment of  the  Lutherans.  At  Ulm,  more  than 
seven  thousand  Germans  approached  the  holy 
table,  and  the  august  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  was 
again  offered  up,  after  having  been  long  suppressed 
and  forbidden.* 

Bobadilla  continued  at  Cologne  until  the  year 
1548,  when,  from  motives  of  conscience,  he  found 
it  necessary  to  depart  for  Rome.  A  work  had  re- 
cently been  published  explanatory  of  the  Catholic 
doctrines  and  discipline,  in  which  certain  proposi* 

*  lab.  viii.  n.  34. 


252  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

tions  were  advanced,  not  in  rigid  conformity  with 
sound  principles — in  the  estimation  of  this  pro- 
found theologian.  He,  consequently,  ever  acting 
under  the  influence  of  sacred  duty,  deemed  himself 
obliged  to  object  to  it,  which  he  did  both  in  word 
and  writing.  Beloved,  as  he  was  by  the  court, 
nevertheless,  with  the  view  of  establishing  con- 
cord, before  the  emperor's  departure  into  Belgium, 
the  imperial  ministers  advised  him  to  leave  the 
kingdom  :  a  sentence  which  he  received  with  the 
more  composure  and  resignation,  as  he  regarded 
it  more  glorious  to  please  God,  in  a  just  cause, 
than  to  yield  to  the  caprice  of  men.  The  stand 
he  took  was  confirmed  by  the  Holy  See,  which 
could  not  but  disapprove  of  the  character  of  that 
concord  ;  and  the  magnanimity  he  displayed  in  the 
circumstances  connected  with  his  departure  to  the 
Eternal  City,  caused  him  to  be  received  there  with 
every  mark  of  admiration  and  respect  by  the  Sov- 
ereign Pontiff  and  the  venerable  Ignatius.* 

*  This  book  had  been  issued  with  the  approbation  of  the 
emperor,  who,  however,  referred  its  contents  to  the  decision 
of  the  Council  of  Trent.  The  learned  Catholic  doctors,  and 
especially  Bobadilla,  deemed  it  necessary  to  speak  out  forth- 
with, as  some  essential  matters  were,  more  or  less,  compro- 
mised. On  this  account  he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
oscillating  ministers,  and  was  advised  to  quit  the  kingdom 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  253 

At  Rome,  partly  within  doors  and  partly  with- 
out, he  strenuously  labored,  until,  in  company  with 
Father  Michael  Ochioa,  he  set  out  for  Naples, 
where  they  lodged  with  the  Benedictine  monks. 
Immediately  he  opened  a  course  of  lectures  in  the 
church,  in  which,  three  times  a  week,  he  explained 
the  epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Romans.  As  yet  nc 
college  had  been  erected  at  Naples  ;  and  though 
such  an  establishment  was  vehemently  desired  by 
the  citizens,  the  municipal  officers  and  the  nobility 
had  not  taken  any  measures  to  commence  it.  In 
the  mean  while,  the  season  of  Lent  coming  on, 
Bobadilla  delivered  the  usual  sermons  in  an  ele- 
gant and  elaborate  style.  The  fruit  evinced  itself 
in  the  crowds  that  rushed  to  the  sacred  trib- 
une.1" 

After  Pentecost,  he  visited,  not  without  great 
advantage,  the  neighboring  dioceses,  inflaming 
with  devotion  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  by  his  fer- 
vid discourses,  and  instructing  the  children  in  the 

The  Holy  See  condemned  the  book,  and  sustained  Bobadilla 
in  the  answer  he  had  published  against  it.  Consult  Grave- 
son,  Hist.  Eccl.  torn.  vii.  p.  83. 

This  book  was  entitled  "Ad  Interim,"  and  created  a 
general  scandal  among  all  thinking  Catholics.  See  Bartoli 
lib.  in.  p.  226.    Id.  n.  35. 

*  Lib.  ix.  n.  33. 

22 


254:  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

elements  of  the  catechism,  and  never  for  a  moment 
deviating  from  the  high  and  perfect  standard  of 
duty  which  he  had  prescribed  for  himself  from  the 
commencement  of  his  career.* 

The  proper  authorities  having  taken  in  hands 
the  establishment  of  a  college  at  Naples,  it  soon 
rose  from  its  foundation — an  ample  and  magnifi- 
cent structure — and  was  finished  in  the  year  1551.f 
Of  this  college,  Andrew  Oviedo  had  been  appointed 
the  first  rector,  with  whom,  for  a  space  of  time, 
Bobadilla  was  afterwards  associated.  But  these 
two  eminent  men — both  conspicuous  for  their  sanc- 
tity, each  in  his  own  way — did  not  entertain  a 
congenial  sentiment  with  regard  to  the  external 
apparatus  of  discipline.  The  former  was  consid- 
ered rather  rigid  by  the  latter,  who  conceived  that 
discipline  should  not  consist  so  much  in  the  minu- 
tiae and  details  of  the  rules,  as  in  a  habit  of  solid 
virtue,  and  strict  fulfilment  of  essential  duty. 
Oviedo  maintained  a  contrary  opinion,  in  which  he 
was  supported  by  Ignatius,  who  took  occasion  to 
express  how  dangerous  would  be  the  experiment 
of  disregarding    small    things,    and    scrupulously 

*  s  Ubique  semper  strenuus,"  writes  Orlandinus,  "  sem- 
per sui  similis  Bobadilla."    Ibid. 
f  See  the  preceding  chapter. 


NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA.  255 

practising  greater.  The  wise  decision  of  the  holy 
founder  of  the  Institute  has  ever  since  governed 
his  disciples.  The  lenity  of  Bobadilla  will  always 
be  considered  as  a  mere  disposition  of  charity  to 
others,  whilst  every  circumstance  in  his  life  so 
convincingly  bears  testimony  of  extreme  rigor 
towards  his  own  person.  If,  then,  in  his  estima- 
tion of  the  proper  character  of  general  principles 
of  discipline,  he  fell  into  an  error,  it  was  an 
amiable  error  ;  and  his  obedience  in  submitting  his 
own  ideas  to  the  wisdom  of  their  common  father, 
Ignatius,  and  ever  after  abiding  by  his  decision, 
displays  again  before  our  view  the  original  frank- 
ness and  simplicity  which  marked  and  character- 
ized his  early  life.  It  began  in  humility,  and  ended 
in  obedience  ;  admirable  in  both,  and  in  both  a 
perfect  model  of  imitation  for  the  Society  to  all 
succeeding  times.* 


*  Bartoli  does  not  hesitate  to  censure  the  conduct  of  Bo- 
badilla, and  comment  on  it  with  the  freedom  of  a  candid 
critic  and  historian.  He  attributes  it  to  the  infocato  spirito 
del  Bdbadiglia ;  regretting  "  that  he  was  not,  when  in 
peace,  equal  to  himself,  as  when  in  war."  Father  Oviedo 
he  styles,  uomo  santo,  e  maestro  di  grande  isperienza  nelle 
lose  dell*  anima.    (P.  227.) 

J  do  not  enter  into  the  very  grave  and  singular  dispute 


256  NICHOLAS  BOBADILLA. 

which  Bobadilla  carried  on  after  the  death  of  Saint  Igna- 
tius with  Laynez.  It  will  be  sufficient  to  remark  with 
Bartoli,  that  it  is  passing  strange  to  see  that  otherwise 
great  and  excellent  man  contending  for  a  trifling  superior- 
ity in  his  order,  after  having  so  generously  repudiated  the 
mitre  and  crozier,  offered  him  by  Ferdinand. 

His  exertions  for  the  Church  did  not,  however,  relax 
during  the  remaining  portion  of  his  life.  He  survived 
three  Generals  besides  Ignatius,  and,  worn  out  with  labors, 
expired  in  peace  at  Loretto,  on  the  23d  of  September,  A.  D 
1580.  He  was  the  last  survivor  of  the  nine.  After  his 
death,  it  was  discovered  from  his  manuscripts  that  he  had 
delivered  seventy-seven  sermons  in  Italy,  Sicily,  and  Dal- 
matia,  and  a  hundred  and  fifty-eight  in  other  places.  He 
was  eminent  for  his  virtues,  especially  that  of  evangelical 
poverty.  He  often  predicted  that  he  would  survive  all  his 
companions  ;  and  when  jocosely  asked  why,  in  the  papal 
brief  in  which  the  Institute  was  confirmed,  his  name  was 
placed  last,  his  answer  was,  because  he  would  be  the  last 
one  among  them  to  die.    See  Tanner,  p.  231. 


SIMON  RODBiaUEZ. 


AND 


HIS  FIRST  COMPANIONS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SIMON    RODRIGUEZ. 


Simov  Rodbigutol— is  a  umbered  among  tbe  .Nine,  is  selected  fir  the 
Indies.  Departs  to  Portugal.  Is  there  detained.  Converts  the  Am- 
bassador from  the  Indies.  His  trials  at  Lisbon.  Is  made  Tutor  to  the 
Son  of  the  King.  Is  created  Provincial.  Is  called  to  Rome.  Is  ap- 
pointed to  preside  over  the  Province  of  Aragon.  Is  recalled  to  Rome. 
His  severe  trials.  His  extreme  humility.  Another  shining  example  to 
his  brethren  for  all  succeeding  times. 


Among  the  Alumni  of  the  Academy  of  Philoso- 
phy at  Paris,  in  the  year  1528,  there  was  a  Portu- 
guese in  the  flower  of  youth,  and  conspicuous  for 
his  brilliant  talents.  He  held  his  place  in  that 
far-famed  Institution  by  the  special  favor  of  his 
sovereign.  His  acquaintance  with  Ignatius  was 
of  an  earlier  date  than  that  of  Xavier,  Laynez, 
or  Bobadilla.  And  by  associating  with  that  holy 
and  ardent  servant  of  God,  he  caught,  at  once,  the 
flame  of  sympathy,  and  felt  his  heart  glowing  with 


260  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

a  desire  to  abandon  all  terrene  objects,  and  dedi- 
cate himself  to  the  perfect  service  of  the  Most 
High.  To  him  he  communicated  his  inmost  senti- 
ments, revealed  his  secret  aspirations,  and  entered, 
with  a  sacred  enthusiasm,  into  all  his  views  and 
designs.  Thus  was  added  a  sixth  companion  to 
the  number  already  treated  of — in  the  person  of 
Simon  Rodriguez,  born  of  respectable  parents,  at 
Buzella,  in  Portugal.* 

After  the  nine  had  formed  themselves  into  a  re- 
ligious and  organized  body — under  the  obligation 
of  vows  which  they  made,  and  renewed — Divine 
Providence  decreed  that  they  should  not  remain  in 
the  capital  of  France,  but  should  scatter  themselves 
— and  thus  propagate  the  Society — over  the  world. 
A  fierce  war  broke  out,  after  the  death  of  Francis 
Sporzia,  between  the  Spaniards  and  French,  on 
account  of  the  principality  of  Milan  ;  and  the 
emperor,  Charles  V.,  had  burst  into  the  province 
with  a  powerful  army.  This  was  the  cause  why 
the  first  companions  of  Ignatius  quitted  Paris  ear- 
lier than  they  otherwise  would  have  done.  What- 
ever remained  of  their  effects,  they  distributed 
among  the  poor,;  and  in  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber,   15S6,   the    memorable    dispersion   occurred."} 

*  Orlandin.  lib.  i.  n.  88.  f  Id.  n.  104. 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  261 

Clad  in  coarse  long  gowns — the  ordinary  form  of 
dress  among  the  Parisian  Academicians — each 
carrying  his  own  package  of  books,  might  have 
been  seen  these  wondrous  men,  staff  in  hand, 
and  barefoot,  pursuing  their  arduous  journey. 

From  the  fatigue  and  hardship,  Rodriguez  fell 
ill,  after  having  struggled  onward  four-and-twenty 
leagues.  His  feet  were  blistered  and  inflamed ; 
his  shoulders  laid  bare  by  the  burden  he  bore,  and 
his  whole  body  bruised,  from  lying  at  night  on  the 
hard  boards,  or  cold  ground.  Pained  as  he  was 
from  his  sores,  and  wasted  with  fatigue,  his  only 
anxiety  and  complaint  were,  lest  he  might  not  be 
able  to  continue  his  way  with  his  beloved  breth- 
ren. 

But  God,  who  led  them  out  of  Paris,  and  sent 
his  angels  to  guide  and  support  them  in  their 
journey,  did  not  forsake  his  servants.  Rodriguez 
recovered  almost  suddenly,  and  with  incredible 
vigor  and  alacrity,  was  enabled  to  follow  on. 
Every  day  the  three  who  were  in  priestly  orders — 
Faber,  Jaius,  and  Broetus — offered  the  sacrifice 
of  the  Mass,  and  the  others  received  the  holy  com- 
munion. Morning  and  evening,  they  allotted  a 
space  of  time  for  meditation  and  prayer ;  and  on 
the  road,  either  chanted  psalms,  or  entertained  one 
another  with  spiritual  and  salutary  conversation  ; 


262  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

and  by  this  pleasing  variety  relieved  the  tedium  of 
their  journey.* 

Having  subdued  one  threatening  difficulty,  Rod- 
riguez was  assaulted,  with  greater  violence,  by 
another.  He  was  followed  by  three  young  men 
on  horseback,  who  having  heard  of  his  intention 
at  Paris,  hurried  thither,  with  great  speed,  in  order 
to  dissuade  him  from  it  ;  and  learning  that  he  had 
left  the  capital,  pursued  him  in  hot  haste.  Of 
them,  one  was  his  brother,  and  the  other  a  fellow- 
townsman  and  friend.  With  all  the  arts  of  per- 
suasion they  besought  him  to  change  his  mind  ; 
reminded  him  of  the  bright  hopes  that  were  before 
him,  and  entreated  him  not  to  rashly  waste  away 
his  youth  in  danger,  poverty,  and  ignominy.  They 
called  to  his  remembrance  the  favor  of  the  king, 
which  he  had  already  liberally  experienced  in  his 
education,  and  menaced  him  with  disgrace,  and 
the  just  punishment  of  what  they  termed  ingrati- 
tude. 

The  noble  heart  of  Rodriguez  was   not   to   be 
moved  by  such  expostulations.      What  recked  he 


*  Id.  n.  110,  111.  In  ipso  itinere  vel  ex  psalmis  decan- 
tat)ant  aliquid,  vel  de  Deo  agitabant  inter  sese  dulcia  et 
salutaria  colloquia :  hac  perenni  vicissitudine  taedia  levabant 
itineris. 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  263 

of  the  world's  opinion,  who  had  trodden  it  undei 
his  feet  ?  or  of  the  pageantry  of  life,  or  of  the  vaio 
promises  of  ambition  ?  All  these  he  had  sacrificed, 
and  forsworn,  when,  at  the  shrine  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  he  told  his  vows  of  religious  perfection 
He  loved  not  father  or  mother  more  than  Christ  * 
and,  therefore,  was  not  unworthy  of  him.  He 
looked  not  back,  after  putting  his  hand  to  the 
plough  :  he  let  the  dead  bury  the  dead.  From  his 
holy  purpose,  no  persuasion  could  deter  him.  His 
brother,  baffled  in  his  design,  retraced  his  way, 
sorrowful  and  disappointed,  to  Paris — he  joyously 
and  eagerly  resumed  his  journey,  with  his  com- 
panions.* 

On  entering  Lorraine,  they  were  exposed  to 
new  trials  and  dangers.  That  country  was  over- 
run with  French  troops,  which  had  made  a  de- 
scent through  it  into  Belgium,  and  spread  such 
devastation  around,  that  even  the  inhabitants 
themselves  were  afraid  to  intrust  themselves  on 
the  high  roads.  How  these  pilgrim-Jesuits  es- 
caped was  a  subject  of  wonder  to  all  :  little  re- 
flecting "  that  they  walked  under  the  protection  of 
Heaven."f     For  the  soldiery,  unrestrained  by  the 

*  Id.  n.  112.  Nonduni  edocti  quantum  sit  in  Dei  tutela 
praesidii.  f  Id.  n.  113. 


264:  SIMON   RODKIGUEZ. 

principles  of  religion,  unchecked  by  the  fear  of 
God,  gave  loose  reins  to  their  rapacity  and  pas- 
sions. At  Metz,  which  was  surrounded  with  a 
military  force,  they  were  permitted,  with  much 
difficulty,  to  pass,  under  the  name  of  French  Aca- 
demicians. They  then  proceeded  through  the 
frozen  regions  of  Germany,  in  the  depth  of  winter, 
in  the  midst  of  snow,  until  they  reached  Basle,  a 
celebrated  but  unfortunate  city,  where  hardly  a 
vestige  of  the  ancient  religion  could  be  perceived, 
among  the  fatal  errors  of  the  Reformation.  Ther« 
Carlostadius  ruled  with  dogmatic  tyranny — the 
opponent  of  Luther  and  of  Rome.  Cursed  by  tht 
former,  anathematized  by  the  latter — and  yet 
maintaining  a  kind  of  anomalous  ascendency,  iD 
the  vulgar  estimation,  over  the  one  and  the  other. 
A  reformist,  on  Protestant  principles,  and  yet,  on 
the  same  inconsistent  and  incoherent  principles, 
disowned  and  persecuted  by  the  Patriarch  of  all 
reformists.* 

Headed  by  that  recreant  monk — the  first  to  break 
his  monastic  vows — a  number  of  Lutheran  minis- 
ters met  the  strangers,  and  instantly  proposed  a 
controversy  on  the  disputed  points  of  doctrine. 
Their  object  was,  evidently,  not  the  desire  of  seek* 

*  See  Audin's  Life  of  Luther. 


SIMON  RODRIGUEZ.  265 

ing  after  truth,  but  of  provoking  a  discussion  ;  and 
consequently  the  Jesuits,  anticipating  no  good  from 
a  contest  of  that  description,  contented  themselves 
with  an  indirect  refutation  of  the  calumnies  attrib- 
uted to  the  Church,  by  their  holy  example,  their 
salutary  admonitions,  their  earnest  instructions, 
So  general^  were  they  esteemed,  wherever  they 
tarried,  that  the  hospitality  not  of  Catholics  only, 
but  of  Lutherans  also,  was  generously  extended  to 
them.* 

At  Constance,  wearied  as  they  were  from  their 
journey,  the  curate,  who  had  taken  a  wife  to  his 
arms,  and  thrown  off  the  Divine  yoke  of  the 
Church,  came  at  the  head  of  seven  principal  citi- 
zens, and  challenged  the  strangers  to  a  disputa- 
tion. From  this  they  found  it  impossible  to  escape, 
and,  therefore,  entered  upon  the  controversy  with 
so  great  ardor  and  erudition,  that  the  apostate 
priest  was  driven  to  such  an  extreme,  and  pursued 
with  such  relentless  vigor — especially  by  Laynez — 
that  he  was  forced  to  exclaim  :  "I  am  hemmed  in 
at  all  points  !  I  know  not  which  way  to  turn  I"  f 
"  Why,  then,  do  you  follow  that  sect,"  retorted  one 
of  the  Fathers,  "  which  you  are  not  able  to  defend  ?w 

*  Lib.  i.  n.  113. 

f  Includor  undique,  et  ubi  verser  ignore    Id.  ibid. 

23 


266  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

"  To-morrow,"  he  savagely  replied,  "  I  will  have 
you  bound  with  irons,  and  will  teach  you  how  to 
abuse  my  sect." 

He  then  abruptly  left  them,  muttering,  I  know 
not  what  threats,  in  the  German  language.  The 
Jesuits,  rejoicing  in  their  triumph  over  error,  disre 
garded  his  threats  ;  for,  they  were  ready  to  laj 
down  their  lives,  if  necessary,  for  the  faith.  The 
rude  menaces  evaporated,  however,  in  angry  words 
and  oaths.*  On  the  following  morning,  they  were 
merely  required  to  depart  from  the  city,  under  the 
guidance  of  an  individual  who  treated  them  with 
kindness,  and  accompanied  them,  to  the  distance  of 
eight  miles,  on  their  way. 

In  the  year  1537  they  arrived  at  Venice,  and 
proceeded  thence,  through  Ravenna  and  Ancona, 
to  the  Eternal  City,  where  they  were  graciously 
received  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Clement  VII.,  as 
related  above. f 

The  merit  of  Rodriguez  could  not  be  better  un- 
derstood, than  from  the  fact,  that  on  him  Ignatius 
had  originally  fixed  his   eyes  as  a  fit  apostle  to  the 

*  Orlandinus  expresses  in  graphic  terms  the  fury  of  the 
minister  :  "  Nescio  quid  germanice  cum  jurgio  effutiens/'  he 
writes.    Ibid.  n.  114. 

f  Chap.  iv. 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  267 

far-off  and  perilous  mission  of  the  East  Indies  :  and 
his  nomination  was,  not  without  mature  reflection 
and  deliberation,  confirmed  by  the  concurrence  of 
all  the  other  Fathers.* 

He,  accordingly,  quitted  Rome,  and  proceeded 
to  Portugal  by  sea.  After  a  short  voyage,  he 
reached  Lisbon,  where  he  found  an  individual 
waiting  for  him,  sent  by  the  king  for  the  purpose 
of  escorting  him  to  the  palace.  But,  requesting  the 
messenger  to  return  his  heartfelt  thanks  to  the 
monarch,  he  retired  to  Alcarer,  laboring  under  a 
quartan  fever.  He  had  hardly  been  there  eight 
days,  before  he  was  again  sent  for  by  the  king, 
whose  desire  to  see  and  converse  with  so  extraor- 
dinary a  man  was  not  to  be  controlled.  Rodri- 
guez consented  to  gratify  it,  but  on  condition  that 
he  should  be  permitted  to  live  according  to  the 
spirit  of  his  order,  and  beg  his  bread  from  door  tc 
door.  The  public  hospital  was,  therefore,  assigned 
him  for  his  residence  :  in  which,  besides  attending 
the  sick,  he  devoted  himself  to  hearing  confessions, 
and  the  care  of  souls. f 

Three  days  later,  he  was  joined  by  Xavier,  who 
had  made  the  journey  by  land.    Both  were  invited 


*  Lib.  ii.  n.  87.  f  Id.  n.  101. 


268  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

to  the  paiace,  where  the  king  and  queen  listened, 
with  extreme  attention  and  interest,  to  the  history 
they  gave  of  the  rise,  progress,  institute,  and  scope 
of  the  Society,  and  the  odium  and  persecution 
which  it  had  already  excited.  Among  the  people,1 
so  sedulous  was  their  zeal,  so  unremitting  theii 
exertions,  for  the  salvation  of  men,  that  they  went 
by  the  name  of  "  the  apostles."  The  king,  seeing 
the  unprecedented  success  of  their  ministry,  by  the 
advice  and  desire  of  the  nobles,  resolved  to  lay 
aside  the  project  of  the  oriental  mission,  and  to  re- 
tain the  Fathers  in  Portugal.  Ignatius  having 
been  consulted,  referred  the  matter  to  the  Sovereign 
Pontiff,  who  left  it  entirely  to  the  pleasure  and  de- 
termination of  the  monarch.  This  Ignatius  ex- 
pressed in  a  letter  to  the  Fathers  ;  proposing,  at 
the  same  time,  that  all  difficulty  might  by  obviated 
by  keeping  Rodriguez  in  Portugal,  and  sending 
Xavier  to  the  Indies.  To  this  suggestion,  the 
king  made  no  objection,  and  Xavier  was  ordered  to 
prepare  for  his  embarkation.  Rodriguez,  however, 
after  having  sounded  the  intentions  of  the  king, 
and  finding  that  all  hope  of  establishing  a  college 
in  Portugal  had,  at  least  for  the  present,  vanished, 
began  to  think  of  secretly  flying  from  Lisbon,  and 
sailing,  with  his  companion,  for  the  East.  But 
this  design  he  could  not  accomplish :  and  submit- 


SIMON   K0DK1GUEZ.  26 

ting  to  "he  disposition  of  Providence,  he  remained 
in  that  city,  devoting  himself  to  the  salvation  of 
the  people.*  By  his  exertions,  a  House  of  Refuge 
was  erected  for  the  reception  of  unfortunate  wo- 
men, where  they  might  not  only  reform  their  lewd 
and  criminal  habits,  but,  likewise,  have  the  oppor 
tunity  of  practising  piety  and  devotion.  This  in- 
stitution was  highly  approved  by  the  public,  and 
extremely  salutary,  not  only  to  the  penitents  them- 
selves, but  to  the  young  men  also,  of  the  city,  and 
especially  of  the  university.  He  received  into 
the  Society  several  distinguished  members,  among 
whom  were  Melchior  Nunnius,  a  celebrated  canon- 
ist and  jurist :  Consalvez  Silveria,  son  of  the 
Count  of  Sortella,  a  youth  of  mature  judgment, 
acute  discernment,  and  naturally  prone  to  piety — 
only  in  his  twentieth  year  ;  and  Melchior  Carnerio, 
afterwards  Bishop,  and  a  devoted  laborer  in  the 
island  of  Macao.* 

With  indefatigable  zeal  he  advanced  the  cause  of 
religion  in  the  court,  where  his  reputation  for  sanc- 
tity awakened  a  peculiar  veneration  for  his  per- 
son ;  and  in  the  whole  region,  throughout  which  he 
spread  the  odor  of  his  own  example,  gained  over 
many  souls  to  God,  and  dissipated  every  remnant 

•  Lib.  iii.  n.  44.  f  Lib.  iv.  n.  55  56,  57,  58. 

23* 


270  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

of  prejudice  against  the  Society  from  the  minds  of 
those  who  were  once  under  its  influence,  especially 
in  the  university  of  Coimbra.  Wherefore,  animated 
by  the  general  feeling,  the  king  resolved  to  com- 
mence at  once  the  erection  of  the  college,  over 
the  building  of  which — not  to  cumber  the  Father's 
time  with  such  an  occupation — he  placed,  as  super- 
intendent, a  skilful  and  accomplished  architect. 
In  order  to  allow  them  ample  leisure  and  facilities 
of  attending  to  their  many  and  arduous  duties, 
Rodriguez  associated  with  the  priests  a  certain 
number  of  lay-brothers,  who,  after  the  example  of 
those  selected  by  the  apostles,  should  minister  at 
the  table,  and  take  care  of  the  domestic  con- 
cerns.* 

He  excited,  moreover,  universal  attention,  by  the 
conversion  of  the  ambassador  from  the  Indies  to 
the  court  of  Lisbon.  He  visited  that  remarkable 
stranger,  and  endeared  himself  to  him  in  so  inti- 
mate a  manner,  that  the  ambassador  listened  with 
interest  and  pleasure  to  the  doctrines  which  he 
taught  and  explained,  yielded  to  the  power  of  truth, 
abandoned  his  idolatrous  rites,  and  received  bap- 
tism with  great  fervor  and  gratitude  to  God,  who 
deigned,  through  the  agency  of  Rodriguez,  to  bring 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  59. 


SIMON  EODKIGUEZ.  271 

him  out  of  darkness  into  "  the  admirable  light"  of 
the  gospel.* 

Saintly  men  must  have  their  alternations  of  pros- 
perity and  persecution  :  and  from  this  rule  Rodri- 
guez could  not  be  exempted.  Calumnies  of  a  se- 
rious nature  were  industriously  propagated  against 
him  and  the  Society  by  a  certain  licentiate  of  the 
university  of  Coimbra,  by  the  name  of  Ferdinand. 
With  the  most  tranquil  composure,  and  in  the 
deepest  silence,  he  bore  them  all  ;  although,  by  his 
influence  with  the  king,  he  might  have  avenged 
his  innocence  with  extreme  severity.  But  instead 
of  calling  for  a  just  retribution,  he  implored  the 
monarch  to  pardon  the  culprit.  The  king's  jus- 
tice would  not  be  propitiated  even  by  the  prayers 
of  the  innocent  man.  He  condemned  the  base 
calumniator  to  be  exiled  from  the  kingdom.  The 
nature  of  the  calumnies  was  as  follows  :  he  accused 
the  Society  of  having  forged  all  the  immunities 
and  privileges  which  its  members  claimed,  and 
Rodriguez  personally  with  having  asserted  that 
they  were  subject  to  the  Apostolic  See  only,  and 
not  to  bishops  or   ordinaries,    to   whose   tribunal 


*  Id.  ibid.  "  Ergo/'  writes  our  author,  "  brevi,  Deo  col* 
lustrante,  se  dedit,  et  nefaria  detestatus  idola,  veterem,  per 
oaptismum,  abjecit  Adam." 


272  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

they  were  not  amenable,  by  whose  authority  they 
were  not  obligated.  Of  being  independent  of  all 
canonical  discipline,  and  bound  by  no  laws,  but 
governed  by  the  will  of  Rodriguez  alone  :  who, 
were  it  not  for  the  favor  and  protection  of  a  few, 
and  the  flattery  and  applause  of  the  ignorant, 
would  long  since  have  been  deserted  by  his  own, 
and  opposed  by  the  public.  These  and  similar 
charges  were  alleged,  which  now  fell,  of  them- 
selves, to  the  ground.  For,  two  letters  of  the 
Holy  See,  confirming  the  Institute  of  the  Society, 
were  exhibited,  as  well  as  the  diploma  by  which 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff  had  adorned  it  with  nu- 
merous and  extraordinary  privileges.  Thus  the 
cloud,  which  the  spirit  of  jealousy  had  gathered 
around  this  holy  order,  was  dispersed  by  the  light 
of  evidence  and  truth,  and  the  Society  and  Ro- 
driguez emerged  from  it  more  brilliantly  than 
ever.* 

The  king  reposed  unbounded  confidence  in  Rod- 
riguez, and  even  condescended,  when  about  se- 
lecting ambassadors  and  prelates  to  assist  at  the 
great  Council  of  Trent,  to  consult  him  by  letter 
on  that  important  matter.  Nor  was  this  the  only 
singular  token  of  his  veneration  for  him  :  there  was 


*  Lib.  iv.  n.  133. 


SIMON   RODEIGUEZ.  273 

another,  if  not  of  a  higher,  at  least  of  a  more  per- 
sonal character,  namely,  the  intrusting  to  his  care 
the  young  prince,  whose  education  hitherto  had 
been  watched  over  by  John  Suarez,  afterwards 
Bishop  of  Coimbra.  The  permission  of  Ignatius 
was  asked  :  who,  though  unwilling  that  his  disci- 
ples should  become  too  familiar  with  the  courts  of 
monarchs,  could  not,  in  this  particular  case — con- 
sidering the  extraordinary  piety  and  numberless 
acts  of  benevolence  of  the  king  towards  the  So- 
ciety— withhold  his  approbation.* 

The  number  of  candidates  for  the  new  order  was 
very  great  ;  and  so  widely  had  it  already  spread 
itself  over  Portugal,  that,  in  the  year  1546,  that 
kingdom  was  erected  into  a  province,  of  which 
Kodriguez  was  created  the  first  Provincial.  He 
was  yet — having  in  his  charge  the  prince — re- 
siding at  court  :  but  his  spirit  and  influence 
were  diffused  in  every  part,  in  aid,  both  of  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  wants  of  the  faithful. 
Amid  the  splendor  of  the  court  he  looked,  with 
undazzled  eye,  upon  the  vanity  it  revealed  ;  and 
his  heart,  long  since  detached  from  the  world, 
grew,  if  possible,  more  insensible  to  its  fascina- 
tions.    It  was  still  fixed  upon  his  first  destination 

*  Lib.  v.  n.  57. 


274  SIMON   KODKIGUEZ. 

It  yearned  to  be  emancipated  from  the  gorgeous 
trammels  with  which,  by  circumstances,  it  had 
been  enveloped,  and  to  pant — in  the  liberty  of 
an  apostle's  mission  in  uncivilized  lands — for  the 
distant  shores  of  India.*  Or,  at  least,  if  he 
could  not  advance  thus  far,  to  go  as  far,  at  least,  as 
the  regions  of  Brazil,  which  had  recently  been 
discovered  by  the  Portuguese.  But  the  ways  of 
Heaven  are  not  always  conformable  with  the  in- 
clinations of  the  human  mind  ;  and  provided  to 
them  it  submit  with  the  acquiescence  becoming 
a  Christian,  the  more  abundant  will  its  merit 
prove.  The  soul  of  Rodriguez  burned  for  perils 
and  privations  in  far-off  missions — and  could  it 
have  put  on  the  "  wings  of  the  morning,"  would 
have  flown  away  to  the  remotest  East :  and, 
nevertheless,  obedient  and  resigned  to  the  su- 
preme will  of  God,  who  takes  care  of  the  des- 
tinies of  all  mankind,  he  remained  in  his  office 
and  at  his  post,  and  by  his  wise  administration 
contributed  to  the  happiness  and  welfare  of  all 
under  his  charge.f 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  1550,  Ignatius 
summoned  in  the  city  of  Rome  a  Council,  at 
which  all  the  principal  Fathers  from  the  various 

*  IcL  n.  58.  f  Lib  viii.  n.  74,  75. 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  275 

parts  of  Europe  were  required  to  be  present.  At 
the  bidding  of  their  saintly  Founder  and  Superior 
— putting  aside  every  inconvenience,  except  what 
might  accrue  to  religion — as  many  as  could  possi- 
bly absent  themselves  from  their  different  avoca- 
tions instantly  obeyed  the  call.  Among  these 
were  Araozius,  Strada,  Oviedo,  and  Borgia,  from 
Spain ;  Laynez  from  Sicily  ;  Salmeron,  Miona, 
Frusins,  and  Polancus,  and  Rodriguez  ;  all,  except 
Strada,  bound  by  the  solemn  vows  of  profession. 
The  last-mentioned  Father  had  been  sent  for  ex- 
pressly, by  Ignatius,  who  desired  particularly  to 
have  him  among  the  number  to  be  convened,  aware 
of  the  light  which  his  long  experience  in  a  difficult 
position  in  Portugal  would  shed  over  their  delibera- 
tions, and,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  might  take 
back  to  his  province  the  uniform  standard  of  dis- 
cipline which  was  observed  in  that — the  fountain- 
source — of  Rome.* 

The  object  which  Ignatius  had  in  view  in  the 
convocation  of  this  Council,  was  to  submit  to  its 
inspection  and  consideration  the  Constitutions 
which,  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the  first 
Fathers  and  of  all  the  Society,  he  had  drawn  up. 
These  were  subjected  to  the  scrutiny  of  each,  with 

*  lib  x.  n.  47. 


276  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

the  privilege  of  suggesting  any  change  or  addition 
Their  saintly  author  possessed  too  deep  a  know- 
ledge of  the  human  heart,  and  was  governed  by 
too  much  prudence,  not  to  perceive  the  advantage 
that  would  accrue  to  his  work,  by  having  it  ap- 
proved by  those  who  were  to  be  regulated  by  it. 

His  Constitutions  were  designed  for  all  nations, 
and  to  be  rendered  compatible  with  every  variety 
of  habits  and  customs,  and  every  form  of  govern- 
ment, and  every  future  generation  ;  and,  therefore, 
he  desired  to  have  them  stamped  with  the  sanction 
of  individuals  of  various  provinces  and  countries  : 
not  only  of  those  present,  but  likewise  of  all  scat- 
tered through  the  world,  whose  occupations  pre- 
vented them  from  attending  at  the  Council.  By 
all,  these  admirable  Constitutions — which  had  cost 
Ignatius  so  much  time,  study,  and  prayer — were 
read  and  approved  ;  yet,  their  holy  author,  in  order 
to  mature  them  thoroughly,  and  leave  them  still 
open  for  amendment,  did  not  publish  them  until 
the  year  1553.*  He  then  sent  them  to  Spain, 
Portugal,  and  some  other  provinces,  not,  indeed, 
as  perfect,  but  to  be  tried,  in  their  application  to 
circumstances  and  their  adaptation  to  places  :  and 
not   to   be   considered   binding    or    indispensable, 

*  Id.  n.  50. 


SIMON  RODRIGUEZ.  277 

nntil  they  should  have  merited  the  approbation  of 
the  entire  Society.  This  approbation  was  solemnly 
given,  in  the  year  1558,  in  a  Council  of  Fathers, 
held  for  the  purpose  of  electing*  a  General,  after 
the  demise  of  Ignatius.*  Laynez  was  chosen : 
when  they  were  again  subjected  to  the  revision 
and  re-examination  of  all  assembled,  and  unani- 
mously approved  and  confirmed.  Four  Cardinals 
were,  afterwards,  designated  by  Paul  IV.,  to  pass 
their  judgment  on  them,  by  whom  they  were  re- 
turned, without  any  change  or  the  alteration  of  a 
single  word. 

In  the  year  1552,  so  great  was  the  increase  in 
the  members  of  the  Society  in  Spain,  that  it  be- 
came necessary  to  divide  that  province  into  two  : 
of  one  part  Anthony  Araozius,  who  before  had 
presided  over  the  whole,  was  left  Provincial ;  of 
the  other — the  kingdom  of  Aragon — Simon  Rodri- 
guez was  appointed,  having  been  removed  from 
Portugal.*)"  Of  this  change  the  occasion  was,  be- 
cause in  Portugal  the  Society  had  been  planted  and 
matured  under  circumstances  different  from  those 
in  any  other  country.  For,  as  everywhere  else 
it  had  been  founded  in  poverty,  in  troubles,  and  in 
all  manner  of  suffering,  here,  on  account  of  the 

*  Id.  n.  51.  f  Lib.  xii.  n.  53. 

24 


278  SIMON    RODRIGUEZ. 

friendship  of  the  monarch,  it  was  quite  the  coi> 
trary.  And  as  the  immense  harvest,  now  whiten- 
ing through  the  boundless  regions  of  the  East,  in- 
vited to  an  increase  of  missionary  labor,  fostered 
under  the  munificent  influence  of  the  sovereign's 
favor,  numbers  of  candidates  were  received  into 
me  ranks  of  the  Society,  and  the  Alumni  of  the 
College  of  Coimbra  amounted  to  a  hundred  and 
forty.  As  yet  no  uniform  discipline  had  been 
Earned  for  the  noviceship,  and  the  domestic  rules 
T7ere  few.  Rodriguez  labored  to  govern  after 
the  model  of  Ignatius,  on  which  he  himself  had 
been  formed  :  but  yielding  to  his  too  indulgent 
and  lenient  disposition,  his  government  assumed 
a  character  which,  though  not  remiss,  was  easily 
abused  by  a  numerous  community,  made  up  of  in- 
dividuals of  every  variety  of  temperament,  and 
most  of  them  in  the  ardor  of  youth.  He  was 
beloved  by  all  as  their  kind  and  common  father : 
to  the  more  careless  he  was  endeared  by  his 
meekness,  while  the  more  rigid  and  wiser  mem- 
bers did  not  criticise  the  conduct  of  their  com 
panions,  much  less  find  fault  with  the  mildness 
of  their  Superior.* 

It  was  under  circumstances  of  this  delicate  na- 

*  Id.  n.  53,  54,  55. 


SIMON  RODRIGUEZ.  279 

ture  that  the  wisdom  of  Ignatius  most  perfectly 
displayed  itself.  Aware  of  the  exalted  merit  and 
qualities  of  Rodriguez,  and  yet  watchful  over  the 
stern  requirements  which  must  be  maintained  by 
his  order,  he  deemed  it  proper  to  remove  that 
saintly  man  to  a  sphere  more  appropriate  to  the 
bent  of  his  disposition,  and  better  adapted  to  the 
temper  of  his  discipline.  He  left  him  to  choose  the 
mission  of  Brazil,  which  he  had  long  sighed  for, 
or  the  office  of  Provincial  to  the  new-formed  prov- 
ince, and  addressed  letters  of  this  his  intention  t(» 
the  king  of  Spain,  his  queen,  Catherine,  and  the 
Cardinal  Henry.  At  the  same  time,  he  stationed 
Michael  Turrianus  and  Francis  Borgia  in  Portu- 
gal. The  kiug  could  not  oppose  the  change, 
coming,  as  it  did,  with  so  much  wisdom,  and  de- 
sired with  so  much  earnestness  by  Rodriguez,  as 
well  as  by  Ignatius.  For,  to  Rodriguez,  the  tid- 
ings were  most  acceptable.  In  token  of  his  joy, 
he  was  seen  to  press  to  his  lips  and  breast  the 
letter  that  liberated  him  from  so  heavy  a  burden, 
so  awful  a  responsibility.  To  his  successor, 
Muroni,  he  instantly  forwarded  the  diploma  of  his 
appointment,  and  to  the  Alumni  of  the  College  oi 
Coimbra  wrote  an  affectionate  epistle,  conjuring 
them  to  pardon  the  faults  and  errors  he  might 
have   committed  during  his   administration.     Mu- 


280  SIMON  RODRIGUEZ. 

roni  received  his  papers  with  tears,  dreading  the 
mighty  yoke  which  was  laid  upon  his  shoulders 
as  successor  to  Rodriguez.  This  venerable  Father 
— having  taken  all  circumstances  into  considera- 
tion— did  not  deem  himself  justifiable,  ardently 
as  he  panted  for  the  Indies,  in  quitting  Europe  ; 
and  he  was,  therefore,  created,  according  to  the 
original  view  of  Ignatius,  Provincial  of  Aragon.* 

In  this  capacity,  he  continued  for  the  space  of 
about  one  year  ;  after  which,  he  retired  to  Lis- 
bon on  account  of  ill-health,  and  was  ordered 
thence,  by  Ignatius,  to  Rome.  There  were,  in 
that  capital  of  the  Christian  world,  in  the  year 
1554,  when  Rodriguez  repaired  thither,  about  a 
hundred  and  forty  members  of  the  Society  ;  al- 
though many  had,  during  the  course  of  the  year, 
been  sent  to  other  cities  to  establish  colleges  and 
communities.  The  Roman  College  enjoyed — and 
deserved — the  highest  renown  for  learning.  In 
the  Church  of  the  Professed  House,  theses  were 
publicly  disputed,  touching  all  the  branches  taught 
by  the  Society,  leaving  to  all  the  spectators  the 
privilege  of  entering  the  lists.  So  great  was  the 
crowd  which  these  disputations  attracted,  that 
for  eight  days  not  a  single  member  of  the  college 

*  Id.  ».  56. 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  281 

could  have  an  opportunity  of  proposing  an  objec- 
tion.* 

The  Professed  House,  though  already  enlarged, 
was  much  too  small  for  its  inmates.  Ignatius  de- 
termined to  add  amply  to  its  dimensions,  or  rather 
almost  to  rebuild  it  entirely.  For  this  purpose, 
he  invited  Cardinal  Bartholomew  Cucuanus  to 
place  the  foundation-stone,  in  presence  of  Alphon- 
sus  Alencastrio,  the  orator  of  the  king  of  Portugal, 
and  many  illustrious  noblemen.  The  Cardinal, 
who  had  a  profound  reverence  for  Ignatius,  re- 
fused to  perform  the  ceremony,  observing  that  it 
would  better  become  him,  who  had  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  so  celebrated  an  order,  to  place  the 
corner-stone  of  the  Professed  House.  Ignatius, 
however,  modestly  persisting  in  his  first  determina- 
tion, the  good  cardinal  insisted  upon  his  acting, 
at  least,  in  conjunction  with  himself ;  and  both  at 
the  same  time  handed  over  the  stone  to  the  skill  of 
the  architect.f 

I  must  not  omit  in  this,  its  proper  place,  a  fact 
of  a  very  remarkable  nature,  which  occurred  at 
this  epoch  in  the  Society.  At  the  suggestion  of 
the  king  of  Portugal,  Pope  Julius  required  Ig- 
natius to  send  some  Fathers  into  Ethiopia,  out  of 

*  lib.  xiv.  n.  1.  f  Id.  n.  2 

24* 


282  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

which  number  one  should  be  created  bishop  and 
patriarch.  Ever  obedient  to  the  will  of  the  Su- 
preme Head  of  the  Church  on  earth,  Ignatius 
immediately  complied  with  his  command,  and  nom- 
inated, as  worthy  of  the  exalted  honor,  a  learned 
and  holy  man,  John  Nunnius,  and  designated 
two  others  as  his  companions — viz.,  Andrew  Ovie- 
dus,  and  Melchior  Carnerius  ;  of  whom  the  for- 
mer— after  struggling  against  the  dignity  with 
all  his  might — was,  by  the  command  of  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff,  compelled  to  be  consecrated 
bishop.* 

In  the  mean  time,  Heaven  had  in  store  a  severe 
trial — still  more  to  purify  his  affections  and  enrich 
his  merits — for  Simon  Rodriguez.  A  few  pages 
above,  the  reader  saw  that  the  too  lenient  disposi- 
tion of  that  excellent  disciple  of  Ignatius  had  suf- 
fered the  reins  of  government  to  become  rather  loose 
in  the  province  of  Portugal.  A  visitor  of  the  name 
of  Consalvi  had  been  sent  thither  to  take  cognizance 
of  affairs,  and  he  now  returned  to  Rome,  confirming 
the   complaints   that   had   been   made.      Ignatius, 

*  Lib.  xiv.  n.  4.  "  Eum  item  per  litteras  hortatus  est  Ig- 
natius,  ut  teneret  in  recusando  constantiam."  But  when 
the  voice  of  God  spoke  definitely  through  the  Pontiff,  both 
were  obliged  to  yield.     "  Verum  Pontifex  imperavit." 


SIMON   RODRIGUEZ.  283 

with  his  wonted  prudence,  referred  the  whole 
matter  to  a  tribunal  composed  of  several  Professed 
Fathers,  empowering  them  to  investigate,  but  re- 
serving to  himself  the  right  of  animadversion.  After 
calm  deliberation,  accompanied  by  fervent  prayer, 
they  decided  that  their  beloved  brother,  Father 
Rodriguez,  was  not  without  blame.  The  sentence 
was  pronounced  in  presence  of  Rodriguez,  who 
received  it  with  a  humility  worthy  his  calling  and 
his  heroic  virtues.  Before  it  was  published,  he 
had  seen  it  in  writing,  and  approved  it :  after  hear- 
ing it  read,  he  fell  at  the  feet  of  his  brethren,  and 
testified  his  readiness  to  submit  to  any  penance. 
Ignatius,  delighted  with  his  simplicity  and  humili- 
ty, enjoined  no  severer  penalty  upon  him  than  not 
to  return  to  Portugal.  In  this  manner,  Ignatius, 
without  respect  to  individuals,  sustained  the  vigor 
of  discipline,  and  yet,  breathing  nothing  but  love 
for  his  children,  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  the 
submission  of  Rodriguez ;  transmitting  thus  to 
posterity  a  twofold  lesson  :  one,  the  necessity  of 
keeping  the  sinews  of  government  well  strung, 
under  all  circumstances  ;  the  second,  of  the  ne- 
cessity of  superiors  acting  always  under  the  holy 
influence  of  charity  in  their  relations  with  those 
whom  they  are  appointed  to  govern.  As  foi 
Rodriguez  himself,  nowhere  does  he  appear  more 


284  SIMON   RODRIGUEZ. 

admirable  or  great,  than  at  the  feet  of  his  judges, 
acknowledging  his  error,  and  craving  forgiveness 
for  the  disedification  which  his  example,  perhaps, 
might  have  given  to  his  brethren.* 

In  order  to  atone  for  his  imperfection — which, 
in  truth,  was  the  mere  result  of  his  amiable 
qualities  too  injudiciously  infused  into  the  spirit  of 
his  administration — Rodriguez  obtained  permission 
to  go  to  Jerusalem,  with  the  view  of  establishing 
a  college  in  that  holy  city.  He  departed  from 
Rome,  accompanied  by  another  Father.  But  at 
Venice  he  was  taken  ill,  and  was  compelled  to 
give  up  the  great  and  interesting  project.  He 
recovered,  however,  and  survived,  persevering  in 
the  practice  of  all  the  virtues  proper  to  his  voca 
tion,  until  the  year  15*19.  On  the  fifteenth  of  July, 
having  received  the  viaticum  and  extreme  unction, 
with  the  most  fervent  sentiments  of  piety  and  de- 
votion, he  breathed  out  his  soul  into  the  hands  of 
his  Creator.  His  venerable  remains  were  followed 
to  the  grave  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people  of 
all  orders,  by  whom  his  demise  was  deplored  as  a 
common  and  public  calamity.*)" 

•  Id.  n.  5,  6.  i  f  Tanner,  p.  160. 

21 


CLAUDIUS  JAIU8. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

CLAUDIUS    JAIUS. 

Claudius  Jaitts. — He  joins  Ignatius.  Is  sent  to  Brescia  and  Favenia. 
Goes  to  Germany.  Is  persecuted.  Labors  at  Eatisbonne  and  Ingold- 
stadt  Succeeds  Eckius  in  the  Chair  of  Theology.  Attends  the  Diet  of 
Worms.  Founds  Seminaries.  Is  sought  after  by  various  Princes.  Is 
sent  to  the  Council  of  Trent.  Eefuses  the  See  of  Trieste.  Goes  to  Fer- 
rara,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Duke.  Goes  to  Augsburg.  Thence  to 
Vienna.    Dies.    His  eulogy.    His  monument    His  immortality. 

The  precise  time  in  which  the  seventh  Companion 
— a  native  of  the  Diocese  of  Geneva — associated 
himself  with  Ignatius  cannot  be  ascertained.  Orlan- 
dinus  himself  is  at  a  loss  to  designate  it,  merely  re- 
marking, that  it  must  have  been  previously  to  the 
year  1536.*  With  the  others,  he  was  present  at 
the  renovation  of  their  vows  made  on  Mont-Matre  : 
and  devoted  himself  to  the  spiritual  exercises  un- 

*  Claudius  Jaius  Gebennensis  theologus  item  ac  Sacerdos 
— quanquam  certum  tempus  non  plane  constat — ad  alios 
septem  ....  accesserat.    Lib.  i.  n.  101. 


288  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

der  the  guidance  of  his  Holy  Father,  in  which  he 
passed  three  days  in  severe  and  continual  austeri- 
ties, eating  nothing*,  except  what  was  necessary  to 
sustain  life.  Jaius  caught  the  spirit  of  his  Insti- 
tute, and  to  exalted  piety  added  extraordinary  pru 
dence.  His  first  mission  afforded  him  a  signal 
opportunity  of  exercising  both.  In  the  town  of  Bal- 
nerregia,  in  Tuscany,  a  serious  and  fearful  discord 
had  arisen  between  the  clergy  and  the  people — to 
allay  which  he  was  chosen  as  an  umpire,  and  de- 
puted thither  on  this  difficult  and  delicate  errand.  On 
his  arrival,  which,  at  first,  seemed  not  to  be  too 
acceptable  to  either  party,  he  convened  them  to- 
gether, and,  after  giving  the  reasons  why  he  was 
sent  among  them,  conciliated,  at  once,  the  good- 
will, and  secured  the  confidence,  of  all  who  were 
present.  Thousands  flocked  to  hear  his  sermons  ; 
and  so  great  was  the  number  of  those  who  had  re- 
course to  the  sacred  tribunal  of  Confession,  that  he 
was  obliged  to  spend  day  and  night  in  receiving 
them.  As  to  the  disputes,  to  arrange  which  was 
the  object  of  his  mission,  they  were  completely  re- 
moved, to  the  universal  gratification  of  all  con- 
cerned. Nor  was  the  reconciliation  merely  of  a 
cold  and  formal  nature  :  but  the  parties,  on  the  con- 
trary, might  have  been  seen  pressing  one  another  to 
their  bosoms  •  and  in  ratification  of  their  restored 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  289 

friendship   they  received  the  Holy  Eucharist — the 
source  and  pledge  of  supernatural  peace.* 

This  great  end  being  triumphantly  accomplished, 
Jaius  repaired  to  Brescia,  where  the  "  enemy"  had 
scattered  the  noxious  seed  of  heresy,  for  the  extir- 
pation of  which  he  determined  to  exert  all  his  ener- 
gies. In  this  enterprise  he  consumed  the  entire 
year  (1539)  with  consoling  effect.  Thence  he  pro- 
ceeded on  a  similar  undertaking  to  Favenza,  where, 
by  his  indefatigable  efforts  and  exemplary  deport- 
ment, he  restored .  the  ancient  discipline  of  the 
Church,  and  instituted  a  sodality,  of  which  the  mem- 
bers bound  themselves  to  approach  the  holy  table 
at  least  once  a  week,  and  to  perform,  with  peculiar 
devotion,  offices  and  acts  of  mercy  and  charity  in 
the  city.  He  appointed  a  Physician  out  of  that 
body,  and  also  an  Advocate,  who  contributed  their 
services  gratuitously,  the  former  to  the  destitute 
sick,  the  latter  to  the  poor  in  cases  of  lawsuits. 
Some  collected  alms  for  the  needy  ;  some  acted  as 
tutors  for  orphan-boys  ;  some  provided  for  helpless 
females  ;  and  all  exhibited  so  striking  an  example, 
and  spread  abroad  so  benign  an  influence,  that,  ere 
long,  the  city — recently  disgraced  by  the  dissolute 
and  irreligious  tendencies  of  its  inhabitants,  now 

*  Lib.  ii.  n.  93. 

25 


290  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

assumed  a  splendid  position  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Church,  and  in  the  gaze  of  the  world.* 

From  this  field  of  his  labors,  the  Sovereign  Pon- 
tiff destined  him  to  depart  to  a  more  extensive  and 
important  arena.  He  was  commanded  to  accom- 
pany Bobadilla  to  Ratisbonne,  to  succeed  in  the 
place  of  Faber,  who  was  sent  into  Spain. f 

Without  delay,  he  entered,  with  extreme  alacrity 
and  intense  fervor,  upon  his  arduous  duties.  Often 
did  he  visit  the  Bishop,  and  remind  him  of  his  duty. 
The  Canons  he  incited  to  every  good  action  :  and  in 
his  own  dwelling,  stimulated  all  who  advised  with 
him  to  virtue  and  piety,  either  by  salutary  ad- 
monitions or  by  the  spiritual  exercises.  He  ad- 
dressed the  senate  in  a  strain  of  noble  eloquence, 
and  everywhere  planted,  with  the  sweat  of  his 
brow,  the  good  grain  in  these  vast  and  neglected 
fields  of  the  Church. J  His  efforts,  however,  to 
remove  from  the  office  of  preaching  a  Lutheran 
minister  who  had  ingratiated  himself  into  general 

*  Quin  ea,  quam  dixi,  sodalitas  illas  sibi  partes  quoque  im- 
posuit,  ut  peculiari  quodam  studio  misericordise  tuerentur 

officia ut  viderentur  omnia  Faventiae  prisca  qua  dam 

religione  fervere.  Lib.  iii.  n.  25.  Was  not  this,  in  itf 
largest  acceptation,  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel  ? 

f  Lib.  iii.  n.  35. 

t  Id.  n.  62. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  291 

favor,  excited  the  odium  of  the  reformed   clergy 
against  him.     The  apostles  of  truth  are  never  ex- 
empt from  trials  and  persecutions.     Jaius  had  now 
to  bear  his  cross,  with  which — keeping  before  his 
eyes  the  example  of  his  Divine  model,  Jesus — he 
continued  on  his  way  rejoicing.     So  inveterate  did 
the   hatred    of   the    Lutherans    become,   that  they 
threatened  to  precipitate  him  into  the  Danube  :  to 
which  menace  his  only  reply  was,  that  "he  could 
reach  Heaven  as  well  by  water  as  by  land."*     Nor 
was  he  the  less  undaunted  when  informed  that  he 
was  in  danger  of  being  poisoned,  or  certainly  driven 
into  exile.     His  courageous  example  was  regarded 
with  admiration  by  all  good  men,  especially  by  the 
Catholics  and  the  Bishop,  who  rejoiced  to  see  him 
defy  the  malicious  schemes  of  the  wicked,  and  re- 
main, supported  by  the  consciousness  of  innocence 
and  truth,  in  the  midst  of  the  snares  that  were 
spread  around  his  path.     With  unshrinking  intre- 
pidity, he  began  a  public  explanation  of  the  Epistle 
of  Saint  Paul  to  the  Galatians,  which  was  attended 
by  a  vast  concourse  of  all  ranks  and  orders,  and 
3ven  by  many  Lutherans  also.     And  though  in  that 
city  there  were  already  established  two  Lutheran 

*  Respondebat  intrepidus  in  coelum  se  tarn  facile  aqua 
quam  terra  ire  posse.    Id.  ibid. 


292  CLAUDIUS   JAIUS. 

churches,  in  which  discourses  fraught  with  errors 
were  assiduously  delivered,  nevertheless,  with 
such  perseverance,  and  in  such  numbers,  did  the 
citizens  crowd  to  his  lectures,  that  he  could  not 
interrupt  them,  even  during  the  usual  autumnal 
vacation.* 

The  effects  of  the  so-called  Reformation  had  been 
severely  felt  over  all  Europe :  its  bitter  fruits  had 
been  tasted,  presented  to  the  unwary  and  unstable 
under  the  most  specious  and  inviting  appearances. 
The  cry  of  liberty  was  raised  :  but  it  meant  licen- 
tiousness for  those  only  who  raised  that  cry,  while 
their  victims  were  ground  down  under  despotic 
bigotry  and  cruel  fanaticism.  Evangelical  doc- 
trines were  the  boast  of  recreant  and  faithless 
monks  and  priests,  who  certainly  were  determined 
not  to  be  restrained  by  the  evangelical  counsels  : 
and  these  vaunted  doctrines — all  negative,  all  Pro- 
testant— multiplied  and  increased  with  terrible  and 
pernicious  fecundity  :  giving  birth  to  Socinianism, 
Arianism,  and  latitudinarianism  of  every  hue  and 
shape,  and  at  the  same  time  generating  disorder, 
schism,  anarchy,  and  desolation.*)*     In  Germany,  the 


*  Id.  n.  63.  Ut  ne  per  autumni  quidem  vindemias,  ut  mos 
erat,  intermitti  sacram  illam  paterentur  explanationem. 
f  The  picture  of  these  times,  as  drawn  by  the  caustic  and 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  293 

evil  had  seated  itself  so  deeply  in  the  nation's  heart, 
that  Jaius,  Faber,  and  Bobadilla,  in  their  letters  to 
Ignatius,  declared  that  nothing  short  of  the  Divine 


graphic  pen  of  Erasmus,  in  a  letter,  written  in  1525,  is  most 
melancholy.  "  One  sect,"  lie  writes,  "  will  not  hear  of  bap- 
tism; another  rejects  the  sacrament  of  the  Eucharist;  a 
third  teaches  that  a  new  world  will  be  created  by  God  be- 
fore the  day  of  j  udgment ;  another  that  Christ  is  not  God : 
in  short,  one  this,  another  that.  There  are  almost  as  many 
creeds  as  individuals.  There  is  no  fool,  who,  when  he 
dreams,  does  not  believe  that  he  is  visited  by  God,  and  that 
he  is  endowed  with  the  gift  of  prophecy." 

And  again  :  "  When  the  Apostles  tamed  serpents,  healed 
the  sick,  raised  the  dead,  men  were  forced  to  believe  in 
them,  although  they  announced  incomprehensible  mysteries. 
Among  these  Doctors,  who  tell  us  so  many  wonderful  things, 
is  there  one  who  has  been  able  to  cure  a  sick  horse  ?    Give 

me  miracles What  must  I  believe,  when  I  see,  in  the 

midst  of  contradictory  doctrines,  all  laying  claim  to  dogmati- 
cal infallibility,  and  rising  up  with  oracular  authority  against 
the  doctrines  of  those  who  have  preceded  us  ?  Is  it  proba- 
ble, that,  during  thirteen  centuries,  God  should  not  have 
raised  up,  among  the  numerous  holy  personages  he  has  given 
to  his  Church,  a  single  one  to  whom  he  revealed  his  true 
doctrine  ?"    De  Libero  arbit. 

The  curious  discussion,  as  related  by  Audin,  pp.  322,  &c, 
between  Luther  and  Carlostadius,  bears  testimony  of  the 
spirit  by  which  both — as  well  as  all  their  associates — were 
actuated. 

25* 


294  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

mercy  could  rescue  and  save  that  fated  land.  The 
reformists  traversed  the  empire,  with  untiring  and 
fatal  strides,  strewing  their  errors  whithersoever 
they  went,  and  leading  the  people  captive  to  their 
pretended  authority  :  whereas,  many  of  those  who 
were  appointed  watchmen  on  the  towers  of  the 
Church,  either  deserted  their  posts,  or  stood  idly 
and  negligently  looking  on  the  spreading  calamity. 
The  clergy  had,  for  the  most  part,  lost  their  energy, 
-%nd  given  up  all  vigilance.  The  blind  lust  of  gain, 
the  mad  determination  of  living  without  restraint, 
threw  every  thing  into  dire  confusion.*  A  sad  pic- 
ture, but  not  the  less  faithful,  of  the  state  of  Ger- 
many, when  Jaius  and  the  other  Fathers  of  the 
Society  first  dared  to  encounter  the  evil  in  that 
afflicted  land.  They  could  be  deterred  by  no  ob- 
stacle or  opposition  :  neither  by  the  magnitude  of 
the  enterprise,  nor  the  impending  dangers,  nor  the 
number  and  hostility  of  their  powerful  adversaries. 
To  the  newly-broached  heresies,  they  boldly  opposed 
the  clearest  truths  of  antiquity  ;  and  to  the  poison 
of  error,  applied  with  skilful  and  fearless  assiduity 
the  antidote  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion.  With 
the  ministers  and  chiefs  of  the  sect,  they  did  not, 
when  duty  required  it,  flinch  from  controversy;  nor 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  19,  20. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  295 

did  they  cease  to  warn  and  animate  the  Catholic 
pastors  and  prelates  of  their  solemn  duties,  and  of 
the  necessity  they  were  now  under — more  than  at 
any  other  time — of  watching  over  their  flocks,  and 
preserving  them  intact  from  the  pervading  conta- 
gion.* 

Jaius,  as  before  stated,  was  now  at  Ratisbonne, 
in  which,  being  a  free  city  and  immediately  subject 
to  the  emperor  alone,  the  Catholic  cause  suffered  the 
more  severely,  as  the  magistrate  had  not  conspired 
with  the  Bishop  in  the  extirpation  of  heresies.  On 
the  contrary,  the  senate  seemed  to  favor  the  novel- 
ties, by  not  using  the  influence  it  possessed  to  pre- 
vent their  growth.  I  do  not  mean  to  insinuate  thai 
violence  and  persecution  should  have  been  recurred 
to.  Far  from  it.  Such  weapons  but  ill  become  a 
Christian  State,  and  should  never  be  wielded  by  any 
power.  Nor  do  I  find  fault  with  the  toleration  of 
Lutheranism  by  the  senate,  and  its  protecting  those 
citizens  who  should  choose  to  worship  in  Lutheran 
temples.  But  there  was  another  kind  of  power, 
which  it  should  have  exerted  against  the  inroads  of 
the  Reformation.  Namely,  a  wakeful  solicitude, 
and  ardent  zeal,  in  behalf  of  the  ancient  doctrines 
which  they  had  received,  as  a   sacred    heirloom, 

*  Id.  n.  21. 


296  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

from  the  orthodoxy  and  piety  of  their  forefathers  ; 
and  which  were  a  guaranty  not  only  for  the  peace 
of  their  consciences,  but,  likewise,  the  safety  of  the 
com  mon  we  al  th .  * 


*  Protestantism  lias  been  intolerant,  from  the  period  of 
the  Reformation.  It  was  born  with  the  germ  of  persecution 
in  its  breast,  and  wherever  it  gained  the  ascendency,  and 
possessed  the  power,  proscription  and  disaster  were  the  fatal 
consequences.  I  make  no  rash  assertion.  The  annals  of 
history  are  my  vouchers.  The  lives  of  the  Reformers  them- 
selves— as  well  as  their  own  acts  and  writings — are  the  in- 
disputable testimonies  to  which  I  appeal. 

Hear  how  Roscoe,  in  his  Leo  X.,  censures  "  the  severity 
with  which  Luther  treated  those  who  unfortunately  hap- 
pened to  believe  too  much  on  the  one  hand,  or  too  little  on 
the  other,  and  could  not  walk  steadily  on  the  hairbreadth 
line  which  he  had  presented."  Dr.  Sturges,  a  violent  Pro- 
testant, admits  that  "  Luther  was,  in  liis  manners  and  writ- 
ings, coarse,  presuming,  and  impetuous." — Reflections  on 
Popery. 

Robelot,  in  his  great  work,  "Influence  de  la  Reformation," 
p.  71,  relates  that  the  Reformers  met  at  Cadan,  and  declared 
that  they  would  not  tolerate,  or  suffer  to  remain  in  the 
country,  any  sect  not  Lutheran. 

The  Convention  of  Smalkald,  held  in  1536,  proclaimed  that 
"  to  believe  that  any  one  who  opposed  the  Reformation  should 
be  tolerated,  was  an  error  !" — Robelot,  ut  supr. 

A  Synod  at  Hamburg,  in  the  same  year,  decreed,  that 
"whoever  rejects  baptism, or  transgresses  the  orders  of  the 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  297 

The  difficult  position  in  which  Jaius  found  him- 
self under  these  circumstances,  and  the  onerous 
task  he  had  undertaken  to  achieve,  can  easily  be 


magistrates,  or  preaches  against  taxes,  or  teaches  community 
of  goods,  or  usurps  the  priesthood, ....  or  sins  against  faith, 
shall  be  punished  with  death." — Idem,  ibid. 

From  these  few  authorities,  the  reader  may  now  form  his 
own  judgment,  whether  it  was  bigotry,  or  prejudice,  or  rash- 
ness in  me  to  assert,  that  intolerance  and  proscription  were 
the  characteristics  of  Protestantism,  in  the  days  of  the  mis 
named  Reformation.  In  England,  the  unrestrained  use  of 
the  Bible  was  forbidden  under  Henry  VIII.  "  He  had,"  says 
Dr.  Lingard,  "formerly  sanctioned  the  publication  of  an 
English  Bible,  and  granted  permission  to  all  his  subjects  to 
read  it ;  but  it  had  been  represented  to  him  that  even  the 
authorized  version  was  disfigured  by  unfaithful  renderings  ; 
and  that  the  indiscriminate  lecture  of  the  Scriptures  had  not 
only  generated  a  race  of  teachers  who  promulgated  doctrines 
the  most  strange  and  contradictory,  but  had  taught  ignorant 
men  to  discuss  the  meaning  of  the  inspired  writings  in  ale- 
houses and  taverns.  To  remedy  the  first  of  these  evils,  it 
was  enacted  that  the  version  of  Tyndall  should  be  disowned 
altogether,  as  crafty ',  false,  and  untrue  ;  and  that  the  author- 
ized translation  should  be  published  with  note  or  comment. 
To  obviate  the  second,  the  'permission  of  reading  tlie  Bible 
in  public  to  others  was  revoked;  that  of  reading  it  to  private 

families  was  confined  to  persons  of  rank, any  other 

woman  or  artificer,  apprentice,  journeyman,  servant,  or  la- 
borer, who  should  presume  to  open  the  sacred  volume,  was 


298  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

imagined.  His  opponents  were  many  and  active, 
and  to  his  tireless  exertions  on  the  side  of  truth, 
they  opposed  an  indomitable  reaction  on  the  side 
of  error.  Still,  by  his  admirable  discourses — which 
were  frequented  and  appreciated  as  well  by  Luther- 
ans as  Catholics — and  by  his  other  missionary 
functions,  he  preserved  thousands  from  contami- 
nation, and  brought  back  many  to  the  "  one  fold." 
He  implored  the  Bishop  to  take  every  means  to 
reform  and  purify  the  morals  of  the  people,  but  to 
execute  this  duty  in  so  conciliatory  and  prudent  a 
manner,  as  not  to  give  them  any  offence.  The 
senate,  likewise,  he  exhorted  and  entreated  not  to 
connive  at  the  increasing  errors  of  the  reform- 
ists. His  zeal  and  influence  stirred  up  the  angry 
passions  of  these  men  ;  and  the  persecution  com- 
menced against  him,  the  preceding  year,  was  now 
renewed  with  deadlier  acrimony.  But  the  segis 
of  Providence  not  only  covered  him  from  the  ar- 
rows of  their  revenge  ;  they  were  blunted  in  their 
force,  and  fell  innocuously  at  his  feet.  Hatred  he 
overcame   by  charity  ;   insolence  by  mansuetude  ; 


made  liable  for  each  offence  to  one  month's  imprisonment." 
Such  was  the  boasted  liberty,  such  the  supposed  enlighten- 
ing and  emancipating  spirit  of  the  Reformation!  See 
Stat.  34  Henry  VHL,  I. 


CLAUDIUS   JAIUS.  299 

and  he  persevered  in  his  station,  preaching,  corn* 
selling,  suffering,  and  displaying  heroic  virtues, 
which  commanded  the  reluctant  admiration  and 
respect  even  of  his  most  inveterate  opponents.* 

Some,  however,  continued  to  harass  and  perse- 
cute him.  Especially  when,  at  his  suggestion, 
the  Bishop  promulgated  in  Germany  the  jubilee 
extended  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  to  the  whole 
Christian  world.  The  infinite  good  which  this 
measure  produced  was  hailed  with  rapture  by  the 
Catholics,  but  viewed  with  jealousy  by  the  Luther- 
ans. Yet,  in  return,  Jaius  evinced  towards  them 
the  greatest  meekness  and  the  purest  charity  :  and 
the  better  to  adapt  himself  to  their  feelings,  to 
open  an  easier  avenue  to  their  minds,  and  to  make 
himself  all  to  all,  he  applied  himself — though  now 
advanced  in  years — to  the  study  of  the  German 
language.f 

Among  his  deadliest  adversaries,  two  are  partic- 
ularly designated  by  Orlandinus  :  one  a  physician, 
the  other  an  apostate   and   married  friar   of   the 


*  Perseveravitque  monitis  et  consiliis  optime  quoque  de 
malevolis  et  ingratis  in  sua  statione  mereri.  Orlandin.,  vi 
tupr.  n.  22. 

f  Id.  n.  23.  Our  author  styles  the  study  of  that  language 
'linguae  asperse  disciplinam." 


300  CLAUDIUS   JAIUS. 

order  of  St.  Francis.  The  former  was  the  first 
who  ventured  to  persuade  the  senate  to  introduce 
communion  under  both  kinds.  The  latter,  having 
thrown  off  the  habit  and  the  cowl,  assumed  the 
character  of  a  Lutheran  preacher,  and  the  append- 
age of  a  handsome  wife.  These  Jaius  had  long 
and  earnestly  endeavored  to  reclaim  from  their 
evil  ways.  But  they  repaid  his  zeal  and  charity 
with  animosity  and  hate,  until  the  hand  of  Divine 
vengeance  fell  dreadfully  upon  them  both :  for 
both  were  carried  off  by  a  sudden  and  frightful 
death.* 

The  senate  was  not,  however,  terrified  by  this 
manifest  visitation  of  God's  justice  on  these  unfor- 
tunate victims.  On  the  contrary,  it  seemed  to  rush 
more  recklessly  into  the  precipice,  until  nearly 
the  whole  city,  as  Jaius  bitterly  lamented,  won- 
dered to  see  itself  infected  with  the  spirit  of 
Lutheranism.  The  efforts  of  one  distinguished  per- 
sonage to  stay  the  evil  cannot  be  sufficiently 
praised.  William,  Duke  of  Bavaria,  comes  down 
to  Catholic  posterity  with  a  name  hallowed  and 
renowned  by  his  unshaken  constancy  in  defending 
the  ancient  faith.  And  although  to  some  who  may 
not  take  into  consideration  all  the  circumstances 

*  Ibid.  n.  24. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  301 

of  the  case,  he  may  appear  to  have  enacted  too 
severe  a  law  against  the  innovators,  yet,  when  the 
peace  and  order,  the  happiness  and  perpetuity  of 
his  government  were  at  stake,  he  felt  himself  jus- 
tified in  protecting  and  securing  these  for  the  many, 
by  menacing,  even  by  capital  punishment,  the 
lives  of  a  few.  Such  was  the  nature  of  the  her- 
esies of  the  sixteenth  century,  that  they  threw  open, 
at  one  and  the  same  time,  the  gates  of  the  sanc- 
tuary and  the  state  to  disorder  and  licentiousness. 
They  were  not  then,  as  they  now  are,  mere  hu- 
man theories  conflicting  with  Divine  convictions. 
The  warfare  between  them  was  not  a  spiritual 
conflfct :  but  it  became  a  conflict  between  two 
temporal  powers  :  the  new  one  struggling  to  inoc- 
ulate the  old  with  a  blighting  virus  of  innovation  : 
and  the  old  resisting  the  destructive  violence  of 
the  new,  by  opposing,  in  self-defence,  a  counteract- 
ing violence.  The  character  of  the  warfare  be- 
tween error  and  truth  has,  in  the  lapse  of  years, 
undergone  an  essential  change,  which,  we  may 
fervently  trust,  will  preclude,  forever,  the  neces- 
sity of  capital  enactments,  or  of  personal  pro- 
scriptions. 

The  decree  of  the  Duke  against  the  intrusion  of 
Lutheranism  into  his  dominions  "was  attended  by 
such  fortunate  results,  that,   "  to  this  day,"  writes 

2(1* 


302  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

Orlandinus,  "  Bavaria  has  escaped  the  tumults  and 
horrors  of  a  civil  war."* 

Jaius  mourned  the  rums  in  which  the  Church 
of  Ratisbonne  was  laid  ;  and  to  restore  which  he 
had  spared  no  pains,  and  had  given  himself  no  re- 
pose, during  the  space  of  Iwo  years.  He  was  now 
commanded  to  extend  his  labors  to  another  direc- 
tion. For  the  Apostolic  Nuncio,  departing  from 
Ratisbonne  to  Nuremberg,  required  Jaius  to  ac- 
company him  thither.  Hardly  had  he  commenced 
his  mission  at  Nuremberg,  before  he  was  sent 
to  Ingolstadt,  where,  notwithstanding  the  precau- 
tion of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria,  the  errors  of  Luther- 
anism  began  to  insinuate  their  poisonous  influence. 
Here  he  spent  the  summer ;  and  whilst  he  re- 
claimed many  from  the  paths  of  destruction,  shed 
abroad  a  bright  halo  of  sanctity,  and  exhibited  a 
profound  fund  of  erudition.  By  the  advice  of 
Robert,  Primate  of  Armagh,  of  whom  I  made 
mention  before,  and  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
Doctors  of  the  city,  he  consented  to  fill  the 
chair  of  Theology,  which  had  been  left  vacant  by 
the  death  of  the  renowned  and  learned  Eckius.f 

*  Itaque  ad  hodiernum  usque  diem,  cernimus  Bavariae 
provinciam  nil  bellicis  periclitatam  tumultibus.  Ubi  swpr. 
n.  25. 

\  Ibid.  n.  26. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  303 

So  great  was  his  celebrity  throughout  the  Ger- 
man Empire,  that  many  Prelates,  anxious  for  the 
salvation  of  those  over  whom  he  presided,  sought 
for  his    co-operation    and    aid.     His    virtues   and 
erudition  were  dreaded  by  the  Lutherans,  and  they 
formed,    wherever  he  displayed  them,  a  powerful 
rampart   against   the  reputation  of  the    reformers. 
The   Prelate  whose   fortune  it  was  to   secure    his 
services,  at  this  juncture,  was  Otho  Truchses,  who 
was  afterwards  created  Cardinal  :  a  personage   of 
great  influence  at   the  Roman  Court,  and  in  high 
favor   with  the   Sovereign   Pontiff.      Every   exer- 
tion was  made  to  retain  Jaius  at  Ingolstadt.    But 
neither    munificent  remunerations,  nor  the  honors 
of  the  chair  in  the  University,  nor  the   expostula- 
tions of  the  citizens,   could  make  any  impression 
on  him,  whose  breast  was  animated  by  no   other 
spirit   than    that    of  the   welfare   of  the   Church. 
The  city  offered  him,  on  his  departure,  liberal  do- 
nations, which,  however,  he  refused  to  accept.* 

At  Este,  he  was  retained,  with  the  consent  of 
Otho,  then  at  the  Council  of  Spires,  by  the  Bishop 
of  that  city  :  where,  during  two  months,  he  labored, 
with  immense  advantage  and  success,  among  the 
faithful.      At   Dilinghen,  he   conceived  the   liveli- 

*  Ibid,  a  110. 


304  CLAUDIUS   JAIUS. 

est  hopes  for  the  cause  of  Religion,  under  the  pat 
r on  age  of  Otho,  who  was  adorned  with  all  the 
virtues,  and  actuated  by  the  zeal,  worthy  the  Pre- 
lates of  the  primitive  ages, — virtues  which  had 
been  happily  cultivated,  zeal  which  had  been  duly1 
directed,  by  the  spiritual  exercises  which  that 
Bishop  had  performed  under  the  guidance  of  Fa- 
ber.  This  great  and  saintly  man  passed  through 
Dilinghen,  at  this  conjuncture,  on  his  way  to  Rome. 
Jaius  deplored  the  departure  from  Germany  of  so 
useful,  so  apostolic  a  missionary,  and  wrote,  by 
him,  to  Ignatius,  expressing  his  grief  at  that  occur- 
rence. For  his  very  name  was  a  tower  of  strength 
to  the  Catholic  cause  :  his  eloquence  and  wisdom 
had  attracted  back  to  her  fold  numbers  of  the 
most  distinguished  persons  ;  and  his  sanctity  had 
given  a  singular  eclat  to  the  name  of  the  Society. 
In  this  well-merited  strain  of  eulogy  did  Jaius 
write  of  Faber  to  his  Holy  General,  Ignatius.* 

At  Dilinghen  he  did  not  long  remain,  but  repaired 
to  Salzburg,  at  the  request  of  the  Archbishop, 
the  brother  of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria.  A  provincial 
Council  had  been  convoked  in  that  city,  at  which 
the  Bishops  of  Augsburg  and  Este  were  both  to  be 

*  Ibid.  n.  iii.  For  the  justness  of  this  eulogy,  let  the 
reader  revert  to  Chap.  II. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  305 

present.  Jaius  was  their  attendant  and  consulter  ; 
and  by  them  his  opinions  were  always  asked, 
before  they  would  come  to  a  decision  on  any  grave 
point.* 

The  object  of  the  late  Council  of  Spires  having 
been  to  discuss  the  articles  which  were  disputed 
between  Catholics  and  Sectarians,  and  it  now 
being  resolved  to  transfer  the  assembly  to  Worms, 
the  question  to  be  determined  was,  what  would 
the  Emperor  think  of  that  measure.  This  question 
appeared  to  Jaius  delicate  and  difficult  ;  and  he 
affirmed  that  it  was  not  reasonable  to  expect  that, 
as  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  had  deputed  him  to  Ger- 
many, he  would  assist  at  that  Council  without  the 
approbation  of  the  Holy  See.  He,  accordingly, 
begged  the  Archbishop  to  excuse  his  non-attend- 
ance. The  Prelate  yielded,  on  condition  that  he 
should  remain  at  Salzburg  during  the  entire 
session  of  the  Synod  ;  and  that  when  consulted  by 
the  Prelates,  he  should  at  least  privately  give  his 
opinion.  To  this  he  could  not  object  ;  and  to  him 
all  the  gravest  questions  were  submitted  ere  they 
were  discussed  in  Council.  Two  things  were 
unanimously  agreed  upon.  First,  that,  in  a  reli- 
gious convocation,  nothing  should  be  decided  by  lay 

*  Ibid.  n.  112. 
26* 


306  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

and  popular  votes.  And  secondly,  that  the  Pro- 
testants, though  they  should  admit  all  Catholic 
doctrines,  were,  nevertheless,  to  be  considered 
Schismatics,  if  they  refused  to  acknowledge  the 
supremacy  of  the  Pope.* 

The  result  of  the  Council  was  pleasing  and 
satisfactory  to  Jaius.  He  rejoiced  to  see  the  firm- 
ness with  which  the  Archbishop  exerted  his  in- 
fluence and  power  against  the  encroachments  of 
the  Reformation  ;  and,  with  fresh  courage  and  re- 
newed confidence,  returned  to  Dilinghen,f  whence, 
after  an  interval  of  a  few  days,  he  was  ordered  by 
the  Bishop  to  accompany  him  to  the  Synod  of 
Worms.  The  affairs  of  the  Church  in  Germany 
were  in^so  critical  a  condition,  that  Jaius  felt  con- 
vinced tha«t  nothing  short  of  a  General  Council 
would  be  able  to  meet  the  impending  danger.  He 
exhorted  the  Bishop  not  to  listen  to  the  proposition, 
made  by  the  Lutherans,  of  a  national  convocation, 
and  he  made  Ignatius  acquainted,  by  letter,  with  all 
the  particulars  of  his  own  position,  and  of  the  circum- 
staaces  of  the  Church  in  these  lamentable  times.J 

The  Diet  of  Worms  was  occupied  rather  in 
useless  altercations,  than  in  salutary  and  grave 
debate.      Jaius,    however,   was    not    inactive,   or 

»  Ibid.  n.  112.  +  Ibid.  n.  113.  J  Ibid.  n.  114 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  307 

wanting  in  his  duty.  He  aided  and  animated  the 
Bishops  in  sustaining  the  interests  of  religion  ; 
and  vindicated  truth  and  confuted  error  in  his  fre- 
quent sermons  to  the  people.  During  the  season 
of  Lent,  1545,  he  preached  before  an  immense 
concourse  of  noblemen  and  the  king  with  such 
ardor,  learning,  and  eloquence,  that  he  moved, 
convinced,  and  enraptured  all.  Of  the  incalcula- 
ble good  produced  by  his  instrumentality  in  Ger- 
many, not  only  the  Bishop,  whom  he  followed  to 
Worms,  but  likewise  the  Papal  legate,  Cardinal 
Alexander  Farnesius,  bore  splendid  testimony. 
By  the  latter,  he  was  cherished  and  admired : 
and  not  only  admitted  to  his  familiarity  as  a  friend, 
but  consulted,  in  difficult  questions,  as  an  oracle.* 

Among  the  meritorious  objects  to  which  he  turned 
the  attention  of  the  German  Prelates,  that  of  the 
institution  of  Theological  Seminaries — a  measure 
which  Ignatius  had  recommended  to  him  when 
departing  on  this  mission — was,  perhaps,  the  most 
important  for  the  permanent  wants  of  the  empire. 
The  study  of  theology  had,  of  late  years,  been 
much  neglected,  while  the  inutility  of  it,  and  the 
change  in  its  whole   system,  were  the  themes  of 

*  Lib.  v.  n.  30.  His  associate,  in  this  Synod,  was  not 
less  esteemed,  as  the  reader  saw  in  Chap.  VI. 


308  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

the  reformers.  This  change  was  gratifying  to 
the  natural  propensities  of  the  mind  and  heart  ; 
it  proclaimed  a  liberation  from  the  yoke  of  ancient 
discipline,  as  well  as  ancient  doctrine,  and  left  the 
one  and  the  other  discretionary  with  the  caprice 
of  the  individual  who  abjured  the  supremacy  of 
the  Roman  Pontiff.  The  fancy  of  youth  was  de- 
lighted with  these  privileges  and  conceptions,  and, 
not  being  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  study  of 
theology,  many  were  lured  from  the  old  path  by 
the  pleasures  and  charms  of  the  new.  Jaius  now 
suggested  the  plan  of  selecting  a  number  of  chil- 
dren, who  should  be  regularly  trained  up  to  the 
liberal  sciences,  and  then  formed  in  seminaries, 
for  the  ministry,  by  a  solid  and  well-directed  course 
of  theology,  especially  of  a  dogmatic  character, 
which  would  render  them  able  disputants,  and 
learned  controvertists.  By  this  means,  the  re- 
formed ministers,  who  came  fresh  and  educated 
before  the  people,  declaiming  against  the  igno- 
rance and  newly  discovered  errors  of  the  Church, 
might  be  met,  breast  to  breast,  on  the  arena,  by 
champions  equal  in  acquirements,  and  superior  in 
argument  ;  and,  thereby,  vindicate  the  majesty 
and  sanctity  of  the  Church.* 

*  Inviando  il  Santo  alia  Germania  il  Padre  Claudio  Jaio^ 
I'anno  1541,  strettamente  gl'  inguinse,  di  mettere  ogni  possi 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  309 

The  project  was  eagerly  approved  by  the  Bishop 
of  Salzburg  and  Este  :  and,  in  order  to  spread 
it  more  generally  through  the  German  empire, 
Jaius  was  invited  by  the  other  Prelates  to  visit 
their  various  dioceses.  But,  as  he  had  been 
placed,  by  the  command  of  the  Pope,  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Bishop  of  Augsburg,  he  was  obliged 
to  decline  the  honor,  and  return  to  Ingolstadt, 
where  he  resumed  his  former  functions,  preached 
in  the  open  streets  to  countless  auditors,  and 
brought  back  numbers  to  the  pale  of  the  Church.* 
Several  Catholic  Princes  desired,  at  the  same 
time,  the  services  of  Jaius  ;  so  universal  was  the 
fame  of  his  piety  and  erudition.  But  his  destina- 
tion to  the  Council  of  Trent,  which  had  now  been 

bile  opera  nel  condurre  quanti  i  piu  potesse  de  Vescovi  di 
cola  ad  abbracciare  un  cosi  profittevol  consiglio :  e  la  Dio 
merce  gli  venne  felicemente  fornito,  e  con  alquanti  altri,  e 
singolarmente  col  Truchses,  Cardinale  d' Augusta  ...  E  fin 
da  quel  medesimo  primo  anno,  i  Legati  proposero  al  Pontifi- 
ce  Paolo  III.,  fra  partiti  piu.  necessari,  e  piu  utili  alia  Rifor- 
mazion  della  Chiesa,  l'istituir  Seminari ....  Con-sciosiecosa 
che,  non  l'avere  altro,  onde  sperar  sicuro  il  rimettere  in  pie 
la  disciplina  abbatuta,  che  ben'  allevare  in  servigio  della 
Chiesa  la  gioventu :  essondo  vero,  che  tali  si  hanno  gli 
nomini  in  tutta  Peta,  quali  si  formano  nella  prima.  Bartoli, 
libr.  ii.  cap.  ix.  p.  91. 
•  Ibid.  n.  31, 32. 


310  CLAUDIUS  JA1US. 

convoked,  disappointed  all  their  expectations 
The  Bishop  of  Augsburg,  having  been  decorated 
with  the  Cardinal's  hat  by  Paul  IV.,  deputed 
Jaius,  in  his  name,  together  with  a  learned  Canon 
of  the  Cathedral,  to  that  august  convention.  By 
the  Cardinal  of  Trent — where  he  arrived  in  the 
month  of  December — he  was  very  graciously  re- 
ceived. But  the  humble  Jesuit,  declining  the 
splendid  hospitalities  of  the  palace,  took  up  his 
lodgings  in  the  hospital.  By  the  Apostolic  Le- 
gates, he  was,  likewise,  welcomed  with  distin- 
guished kindness  and  respect,  not  so  much,  per- 
haps, in  consequence  of  the  high  position  he  held 
as  the  representative  of  an  illustrious  Prelate,  as 
of  the  celebrity  of  his  own  name  and  the  renown 
of  his  past  labors  in  Germany.* 

In  the  Council,  he  exercised  a  powerful  influ- 
ence ;  in  private,  he  was  consulted  by  the 
Bishops  ;  and  in  public,  his  decisions  were  heard 
with  singular  respect  and  veneration.  Nor  did  he 
neglect  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  Society.  But, 
with  the  approbation  of  the  Cardinal  of  Trent, 
preached  the  word  of  God,  administered  the  Sacra- 
ments, and  uniting  his  great  efforts  with  those  of 
his  brethren,  Laynez  and  Salmeron,  he  gave  a 
i  — ■ 

*  Ibid.  n.  33. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  311 

lustre  to  the  Society  which  time  will  never  be  able 
to  extinguish.* 

On  the  demise  of  the  Bishop  of  Trieste,  Ferdinand 
resolved  to  offer  the  vacant  See  to  Jaius,  the  sanc- 
tity of  whose  life,  and  the  solidity  of  whose  eru 
dition,  would,  he  felt  convinced,  prove  a  mighty 
bulwark  in  favor  of  the  Church,  during  these 
calamitous  times.  He,  accordingly,  urged  the  Fa- 
ther, by  letter,  not  to  refuse  the  burden,  so  worthy 
of  his  solicitude  and  vigilance,  should  it  be  imposed 
upon  him  by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff.  Nothing, 
he  assured  him,  would  be  more  agreeable  to  the 
people,  nothing  more  gratifying  to  his  own  de- 
sires.*)" 

Jaius,  who  from  his  youth  had  imbued  his  heart 
with  sentiments  of  unaffected  humility,  and  whose 
maturer  reflection,  and,  above  all,  whose  vow  of 
poverty,  had  confirmed  his  natural  aversion  to  hon- 
ors and  preferment,  no  sooner  received  the  inti- 
mation of  the  king's  intention,  than  he  began  to 
take  effectual  measures  against  its  consummation. 
To  this  end,  he  wrote,  immediately,  to  Ignatius, 
conjuring  him  to  avert  the  impending  danger,  by 
interposing  his  influence  both  with  the  king  and 
Pontiff :  affirming  that,  unless  compelled  by  obedi- 

*  Lib.  vi.  n  19.  t  thid.  n.  81. 


312  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

ence  to  remain  at  Trent,  he  would  rescue  himself 
by  timely  flight  and  concealment.* 

Justly  did  this  wise  and  holy  man  dread  those 
honors  at  which  the  greatest  and  most  venerable 
Fathers  trembled  :  and  which,  according  to  St. 
Gregory  Nazianzen,  who  fled  from  the  Episcopal 
dignity,  should  be  most  feared,  because  they  are 
the  most  pregnant  with  responsibility  and  danger. 
Wherefore,  when  the  king's  Confessor  repaired  to 
Venice,  where  Jaius  then  was  stationed,  for  the 
purpose  of  comunicating  to  him  the  royal  pleas- 
ure, "  Give  me  one  hour,"  was  his  reply,  "  to  de- 
liberate on  the  subject."  After  which  time,  he 
declared  that,  having  recommended  the  affair  to 
God  in  fervent  prayer,  he  was  fully  convinced  that 
he  was  not  competent  to  the  onerous  charge  with 
which  the  king  wished  to  intrust  him.f  Ferdinand 
addressed  to  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  also,  a  most 
feeling  letter,  entreating  him  to  appoint  to  the  va- 
cant See  of  Trieste  an  ecclesiastic  of  exemplary 
piety  and  singular  learning,  and  in  every  way  qual- 
ified for  the  high   office  of  Bishop.     These  letters 

*  Ibid.  n.  32. 

f  Ibid.  Et  jure  vir  sapiens  sibi  metuebat ....  nee  igno 
rabat  quod  scriptum  Nazianzenus  cum  Episcopatum  fu- 
geret,  reliquisset :  metum  hunc  omnium  maximun  metuum 
f<*8e,  et  hoc  periculum  omnium  periculorum  extremum. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  313 

were  delivered  to  the  Father  of  the  faithful  by  hia 
ambassador,  who  had  brought  the  affair  nearly  to 
its  termination,  before  Ignatius  discovered  the  de- 
sign. All  hope  of  averting  the  sentence  seemed 
to  have  fled.  The  ambassador  was  instructed  to 
persist  in  his  postulation  :  the  Cardinals  would 
not  interfere.  The  Pope — despite  the  representa- 
tions and  entreaties  of  the  Society — seemed  de- 
termined to  confirm  the  nomination  made  by  the 
king.  Ignatius,  amid  these  threatening  difficul- 
ties, fled  to  prayer,  and  fixed  his  confidence  in  God, 
who  inspired  him  with  the  resolution  to  expostulate 
with  the  king,  by  a  letter  addressed  immediately 
to  his  majesty  himself,  the  substance  of  which  was 
as  follows  :  "  The  desire  you  have  expressed,  most 
illustrious  monarch,  to  honor  the  Society,  and  your 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  your 
people,  are  not  unknown  to  us.  For  both  we  re- 
turn you  our  warmest  thanks,  beseeching  the 
Divine  goodness  to  inspire  your  majesty  with  the 
most  effectual  means  wherewith  to  accomplish 
such  noble  views.  But  the  greatest  favor,  and 
"the  truest  kindness  that  you  could  exhibit  in  our 
regard,  would  be  to  allow  us  quietly  and  sin- 
cerely to  pursue  the  path  of  our  profession  ;  to 
which  all  honors,  we  are  persuaded,  are  so  op- 
posed, that  we  openly  and  conscientiously  declare, 

27 


31±  CLAUDIUS   JAIUS. 

that  we  regard  the  Episcopacy  as  the  worst  evil 
that  can  befall  us.  For  of  all,  who  have  embraced 
the  institute  of  the  Society,  the  single  intention  and 
object  has  been  to  go  to  any  part  of  the  world  to 
which  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  might  send  them,  for 
the  advancement  of  religion  :  so  that  the  first  and 
germane  spirit  of  the  Society  is,  that  its  members 
should  travel  from  province  to  province,  and  from 
city  to  city,  in  all  simplicity,  for  the  glory  of  God 
and  salvation  of  souls  :  and  not  confine  their  la- 
bors to  any  particular  place.  This  mode  of  life 
was  not  only  approved  by  the  Apostolic  See,  but 
God  has  shown,  by  many  evidences,  how  pleasing 
in  his  sight  and  beneficial  to  the  Church  it  hao 
been.  Wherefore,  as  in  the  conservation  of  the 
first  spirit  is  seated,  as  it  were,  the  very  soul  of  re 
ligious  orders,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that,  b\ 
retaining  it,  we  will  preserve — by  abandoning  it, 
we  will  destroy — our  Society.  From  this  it  wil) 
clearly  be  perceived  how  dread  a  calamity  we  re 
gard  the  impending  honors  of  the  Episcopacy. 
At  this  time,  we  are  only  nine  professed  Fathers, 
and  to  four  or  five  the  Episcopal  dignity  h^s  already 
been  offered,  and  by  all  resolutely  declined.  Had 
each  of  them  yielded,  others  would  hasTe  fancied 
themselves  privileged,  also,  to  accept  it ;  and  thus 
not  only  would  the    Society   degenerate   from   its 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  315 

original  spirit,  but,  its  members  gradually  being 
taken  away,  would  be  soon  entirely  dissolved.  In 
fine,  as  by  examples  of  humanity  and  holy  poverty 
this  little  Society  has  prospered,  if  men  were  to 
see  us  honored  and  wealthy,  their  good  opinion 
of  us  would  be  changed,  and  the  door  of  future 
usefulness,  not  without  scandal,  would  be  closed. 
But  it  is  not  necessary  to  accumulate  reasons.  We 
throw  ourselves  upon  the  wisdom  and  clemency  of 
your  majesty  :  to  your  faith,  to  your  protection, 
we  confide  ourselves,  praying  and  conjuring  you, 
through  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  that  since  these 
honors  would  be,  we  are  confident,  the  destruction 
of  the  Society,  to  avert,  in  your  goodness  and  love 
of  religion,  this  awful  calamity,  and  to  preserve 
this  least  and  infant  order,  to  the  glory  of  the 
Eternal  Majesty.  May  He  enrich  your  majesty 
with  an  abundance  of  celestial  gifts  !"* 

This  respectful  but  cogent  epistle  of  Ignatius 
produced  the  desired  effect.  The  king  relented, 
and  ordered  his  ambassador  to  desist  from  the  ac- 
tion which  had  well-nigh  been  accomplished.  The 
reasons  so  forcibly  urged  not  only  satisfied  the 
monarch,  but  convinced  the  Pope,  likewise,  of 
the  wisdom  of  the  Society  in  not  permitting 
» ii 

*  Ibid.  n.  34. 


316  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

her  children  to  aspire  to  ecclesiastical  prefer- 
ment.* 

Towards  the  end  of  July,  1547,  Jaius  repaired 
to  Ferrara,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  duke,  Her- 
cules, who  desired  to  have  as  the  director  of  his 
conscience,  and  as  a  faithful  adviser,  a  holy  and 
prudent  priest.  The  selection  of  such  an  individual 
being  left  to  his  Confessor,  Guido  Guidonio,  he  cast 
his  eyes  upon  Jaius,  whose  fame  was  now  univer- 
sal, and  whose  place  of  nativity  would  render  him 
peculiarly  acceptable  to  the  duchess,  who  was  a 
native  of  France.  The  duke  immediately  wrote 
to  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  and  Ignatius,  requesting 
that  they  would  approve  of  his  choice.  Ignatius 
replied,  that  he  felt  happy  in  serving  a  prince  who 
had  proved  himself  so  favorable  to  the  Society,  and 
would  ever  entertain  towards  him  the  liveliest  sen- 
timents of  gratitude.  He,  likewise,  instructed  Jaius 
in  what  manner  he  should  act  and  comport  himself 
towards  his  illustrious  benefactor,  and  amid  the 
blandishments  of  the  court.f 

On    arriving    at    Ferrara,  Jaius    first   presented 


*  To  the  reasons  expressed  in  his  letter  to  the  king,  Igna> 
tius  added  several  others  in  that  to  the  Sovereign  Pontiflj 
which  I  gave  at  length  in  the  first  chapter  of  this  work. 

f  Lib.  vii.  n.  34. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  317 

himself  to  the  duke,  and  then  proceeded,  straight- 
way, to  the  hospital,  where  he  devoted  himself  to 
the  spiritual  and  corporal  comfort  of  the  inmates. 
The  munificent  accommodations  offered  by  the 
luke  he  declined  ;  affirming  that  he  enjoyed  more 
pleasure  in  the  company  of  the  poor  than  amid  the 
gorgeous  luxuries  of  the  court.  In  the  asylum  for 
widows,  which  was  founded  by  the  duke  under 
the  appellation  of  Sancta  Maria  de  Rosa,  he  in- 
structed, and  administered  the  Sacraments  ;  and 
devoted  a  large  share  of  his  time  to  the  hospital  of 
Saint  Anne,  in  which,  the  more  effectually  to  reap 
the  abundant  fruits  of  his  untiring  zeal,  the  Cardi- 
nal Bishop  of  the  city  conferred  on  him  all  power 
and  authority.*  By  the  duke  he  was  consulted 
concerning  the  affairs  of  his  soul  and  the  govern- 
ment of  his  people  ;  was  intrusted  with  the  care 
of  the  duke's  children,  whose  spiritual  guide  he 
was  appointed  ;  and  besides  these  duties,  applied 
himself,  moreover,  to  the  functions  of  preaching 
and  lecturing,  and  hearing  confessions.  "In  a 
word,"  adds  Orlandinus,  "  he  discharged  number- 
less other  offices,  which  the  fear  of  satiating  the 
attention  of  the  reader,  alone,  induces  me  not  to 
mention  more  in  detail."f 

*  Ibid.  n.  25.  f  Lib.  ix.  n.  47. 

2?* 


318  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

Meanwhile,  William,  Duke  of  Bavaria,  the 
noble  defender  of  the  ancient  Church,  mindful  of 
the  infinite  good  achieved  by  Jaius  at  Ingolstadt, 
and  of  the  influence  and  benevolence  which  ren- 
dered him  distinguished  in  that  part  of  Germany, 
requested  the  Pope  to  appoint  three  theologians — 
naming  as  one  whom  he  most  esteemed,  Jaius — 
who  should  teach  the  sacred  sciences  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Ingolstadt.  The  Pope  signified  the 
duke's  pleasure  to  Ignatius,  who  could  not  hesitate 
to  acquiesce  in  it.  Quitting  Ferrara,  with  the  per- 
mission of  Hercules,  he  proceeded  with  his  com- 
panions, Salmeron  and  Canisius,  to  Bologna, 
where  the  degree  of  Doctor  was  awarded  to  each 
one  by  the  famous  University  of  that  city.  Deco- 
rated with  this  new  title — which  they  earned  by  a 
previous  disputation  held  with  two  of  the  most 
learned  theologians — they  continued  their  journey 
to  Trent,  where  they  were  received  with  dis- 
tinguished attention  by  the  Cardinal,  and  reached 
their  destination  amid  the  gratulations  and  cor 
dial  greetings  of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria.  It  was 
here  that  the  immortal  Eckius  formed  towards  the 
Fathers  of  the  Society  that  intimate  friendship 
which  he  cherished  to  the  end  of  his  life.  By  the 
University  of  Ingolstadt,  they  were  welcomed 
with  unanimous  applause,  and  addressed  in  a  Latin 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  319 

OJtvtion,  to  which  Canisius  returned  an  extempo- 
raneous, but  eloquent  reply.* 

The  fv  llowing  day  they  were  escorted  to  the 
"Ancient  College."f  They  soon  entered  upon 
their  respective  duties.  Salmeron  commenced  an 
explanation  of  the  Epistle  of  St.  Paul ;  Jaius,  of 
the  Psalms  ;  and  Canisius,  of  the  Master  of  Sen- 
tences :  and  so  highly  were  they  admired,  that  the 
members  of  the  University  expressed  their  gratifi- 
cation, in  a  printed  document,  to  the  following 
effect:  "We  are  at  a  loss  how  to  give  utterance  to 
the  pleasure  we  have  derived  from  the  arrival 
amongst  us  of  the  three  theologians,  Claudius  Jaius, 
Alphonsus  Salmeron,  and  Peter  Canisius  :  whose 
presence,  far  from  diminishing  the  greatness  of 
their  reputation,  has  increased  it.  Their  wonder- 
ful knowledge  of  the  sacred  sciences,  their  general 
erudition,  and  their  sanctity  of  manners,  not  only 
equal,  but  far  surpass,  our  sanguine  anticipa- 
tions.! 

This  was  the  declaration  made  in  favor  of  these 

*  Ibid.  n.  54. 

f  Postero  die  in  Collegium,  quod  apellant  "  vetus,"  cum 
aonore  deducuntur.     Id.  n.  54. 

$  Nuper  quantam  laetitiam  ceperimus  omnes  ex  adventu 
trium  Theologorum,  vix  dici  potest.  Quorum  praesenta  non- 
tolum  famam  de  ipsis  excitatam  non  minuit,  verum  ctiam 


320  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

first  Jesuit  Fathers — these  disciples  of  Ignatius — 
by  the  far-famed  University  of  Ingolstadt  ;  a  dec- 
laration which  afforded  great  joy  to  the  neighbor- 
ing Bishops,  who  had  hitherto  endeavored,  in  vain, 
to  revive  the  sacred  sciences,  so  long  dormant,  amid 
the  increasing  innovations  of  the  times.  In  order 
to  perpetuate  the  good  work,  the  duke  determined 
to  take  measures  for  the  foundation  of  a  College 
of  the  Society  at  Ingolstadt ;  a  project  which 
met  with  the  cordial  approbation  and  concurrence 
of  the  illustrious  Chancellor  Eckius.* 


auget.  Quorum  singularis  in  Sacris  studiis  Scientia,  turn  in 
omnibus  disciplinis  exercitatio,  postremo  sanctimonia  vita 
expectationem  omnium  eamque  maximam  non  solum  sequat- 
verum  etiam  superat. — Ibid. 

*  This  was  the  renowned  champion  of  the  Church,  who 
had  earned  immortal  laurels  from  the  disputations  he  held  at 
"Vienna  and  Bologna  ;  laurels  which  Luther  and  Carlostadius 
afterwards  sought  to  wrest  from  his  brows.  To  the  ninety- 
five  propositions  put  forth  by  the  former,  he  boldly  replied 
and  triumphantly  opposed  the  theological  arguments,  which 
excited  the  jealousy  of  the  Archdeacon  of  Wittemberg, 
who,  at  that  time,  was  Lecturer  of  Divinity.  Eckius  was 
accordingly  challenged  to  enter  the  lists  with  him.  The 
city  of  Leipsic  was  chosen  as  the  arena  of  the  controversy — 
being  famous  for  its  trade  and  university.  The  conflict  was 
short.  Carlostadius  found  to  his  shame,  as  well  as  confutation, 
that  his  shallow  theology  could  not  withstand  the  deep  and 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  321 

After  the  death  of  William,  Duke  of  Bavaria, 
his  successor,  Albert,  who  cherished  an  equal 
affection  for  Jaius  and  his  companions,  earnestly 
conjured  the  Pope,  by  letters,  and  by  his  ambas- 
sador, not  to  remove  them  from  his  dominions. 
But  the  Cardinal  of  Augsburg  had  already  obtained 
permission  for  Jaius  to  aid  him,  in  his  diocese,  in 
promoting  the  Catholic  cause,  and  to  be  present  at 
the  Council  which  was  soon  to  be  held  in  the 
metropolis.  Ignatius,  convinced  that  the  labors 
of  Jaius  would  be  more  required  there  than  at 
Ingolstadt,  ordered  him  to  take  his  departure 
thence  ;  which  he  did,  followed  by  the  regrets  of 
Albert,  and  the  lamentations  of  the  whole  city.* 

In   the    year    1550,    the    Council    of  Augsburg 

sweeping  force  of  his  adversary's,  a  man  of  acute  mind, 
splendid  genius,  boundless  erudition,  and  unfailing  memory. 

Carlostadius  yielded  the  field — routed  and  confounded — to 
Luther,  who,  in  his  turn,  was  reduced  to  the  necessity  of 
admitting  much  of  what  he  had  previously  uttered  against 
penance,  indulgences,  and  priestly  absolution.  Luther  being 
silenced,  his  once-defeated  vindicator  attempted  to  breast 
anew  the  torrent  of  Eckius's  controversy.  But  again  he 
was  oppressed  by  its  irresistible  tide.  And  the  arena  and  all 
the  laurels  of  the  day  were  awarded,  by  acclamation,  to  the 
Catholic  disputant.  For  further  interesting  details,  consult 
Graveson,  Hist.  Ecc.  vol.  vii.  p.  79  et  seq. 

*  Lib.  x.  n.  102. 


322  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

was  convened.  In  the  midst  of  the  august  per 
sonages  and  learned  men  who  were  present,  Jaius 
stood  conspicuous,  and  devoted  himself,  with  as- 
siduous attention  and  care,  to  the  duties  assigned 
him  :  now  displaying  his  wisdom  by  his  counsel  ; 
now  contributing  his  invaluable  aid  to  the  labors 
of  the  Prelates  ;  shedding,  meanwhile,  upon  all 
around,  the  influence  of  his  example,  and  seeking 
light  and  prudence  from  above,  in  the  habitual  ex- 
ercise of  prayer  and  meditation.  He  converted 
from  the  errors  of  Lutheranism  not  a  few  ;  among 
whom  were  several  young  men  of  excellent  dispo- 
sition and  talents,  who  had  been  swept  away  in 
the  torrent  of  the  Reformation  :  and,  by  means  of 
the  spiritual  exercises  infused  into  the  clergy — 
many  of  whom  were  noble  and  opulent — the  spirit 
of  their  vocation.  From  the  public  places  he  caused 
all  indecent  statues,  and  from  private  houses  un- 
seemly pictures,  to  be  removed  ;  and  induced  the 
wealthy  to  apply  a  portion  of  their  riches  to  the 
wants  of  the  poor. 

At  Vienna,  Ferdinand,  king  of  the  Romans,  of 
whose  piety  and  zeal  for  the  Catholic  cause  I  have 
already  related  many  examples,  desirous  of  re- 
storing the  University,  in  which  the  taint  of  error 
had  contaminated  most  of  the  professors,  and  of 
restraining  the  progress  of  Lutheranism,  as  well 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  323 

as  reforming  the  morals  of  the  faithful,  obtained 
thirteen  members  of  the  Society,  solid  men,  and 
well  versed  in  the  art  of  administering"  the  busi- 
ness connected  with  a  University.  Among  these, 
the  most  prominent  was  Jaius.* 

Such  was  the  lamentable  condition  of  Austria, 
at  this  epoch  (1551),  that  of  the  provinces  subject 
to  the  sway  of  Ferdinand  hardly  the  tenth — or  as 
others  have  surmised,  even  the  thirtieth — part 
could  be  said  to  be  free  from  the  contagion  of 
heresy.  The  Reformation  had  swept  its  direful 
way  into  the  heart  of  the  empire.  Its  teachers 
had  scattered,  in  thousands,  volumes  teeming  with 
abuse,  calumny,  and  error,  from  which  the  credu- 
lous minds  of  youth  drank  in  the  agreeable  poison, 
which,  mingling  itself,  as  it  were,  with  the  blood 
in  their  tender  veins,  incorporated  with  their 
beings.  Well  did  the  reformists  understand  the 
pernicious  art  of  instilling  indelible  prejudices  into 
the  unwary  breast,  through  the  medium  of  pleasing 
and  elegantly-published  books/f*     The  monasteries 

*  Lib.  xi.  n.  39. 

+  The  leading  and  wealthiest  publishers  at  this  fatal  period 
had  gone  over  to  the  cause  of  tlie  Reformation  :  and  the 
/ecreant  members  of  the  monastic  order,  "who  had  acquired, 
in  their  communities,  the  art  of  copying,  in  elegant  style,  the 
ancient  manuscripts,  gave  themselves  up  to  the  business  o1 


324  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

were  deserted.  Monks  and  priests  were  held  up 
to  public  scorn  and  ridicule,  insomuch  that  few 
had  the  courage  to  devote  themselves  to  the  min- 
istry. Orlandinus  states,  that  during  the  long 
course  of  twenty  years  not  one  individual  received 
sacred  orders  in  the  celebrated  University  of  Vi- 
enna.* Many  weak  Catholics,  ashamed  of  the 
opprobrious  title  of  papists,  by  which  the  Luther- 
ans designated  them,  dissembled  their  faith  ;  and 
to  this  evil,  which  was  daily  spreading  wider  and 
wider,  no  remedy  seemed  to  be  at  hand.  The 
king,  who  possessed  extraordinary  discrimination, 
did  not  see  any  men  perfectly  fitted  to  undertake 

type-composition  and  proof-reading  in  Lutheran  establish- 
menta  The  press,  by  this  means,  assumed  a  Protestant  as- 
cendency. The  works  of  the  reformists  were  beautifully 
and  sumptuously  edited,  while  those  of  the  Catholics — even 
of  Eckius  and  Erasmus — were  so  clumsily  executed,  that 
they  excited  the  ridicule  of  the  Frankfort  merchants. 
Cochlceus,  p.  58,  59.  Erasmus,  in  an  epistle  to  Henry  VIII., 
regrets  that  "  he  could  find  no  printer  who  would  dare  pub- 
lish any  thing  against  Luther." — Epist.  p.  752. 

Cochlceus  relates,  that  an  infinite  number  of  apostate 
priests  procured  their  living  by  strolling  through  Germany, 
selling  Lutheran  books. — P.  58. 

For  innumerable  details  with  regard  to  these  facts,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  Audin's  Life  of  Luther. 

*  Lib.  xi.  n.  40. 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  325 

the  government  of  the  Churches,  or  to  be  raised  to 
the  Episcopal  dignity.  In  all  Vienna,  not  a  single 
person  could  be  found  willing  to  devote  himself  to 
holy  orders.  The  parishes  were  either  destitute 
of  pastors,  or  else  occupied  by  men  unworthy  their 
ecclesiastical  profession.  The  sacraments  were 
entirely  neglected.  The  Eucharist  was  adminis- 
tered under  both  kinds  ;  the  confessional  was  dis- 
pensed with.  Preachers  treated,  in  their  dis- 
courses, of  faith  alone,  and  the  merits  of  Christ : 
but  not  a  word  was  uttered  concerning  fasting, 
prayer,  alms-deeds,  and  other  good  works.  It  was 
amid  all  these  abuses,  while  this  dense  cloud  of 
error  was  brooding  over  the  Church,  that  Jaius 
and  his  companions  appeared  at  Vienna.*  The 
scene  was  soon  changed.  A  School  of  Theology 
was  immediately  opened,  to  which,  in  a  few  days, 
upwards  of  fifty  young  men  repaired,  who,  in  due 
time,  were  promoted  to  holy  orders,  and  began  to 
combat  the  prevailing  heresies,  with  a  courage  and 
success  to  which  the  empire  of  Austria  is  greatly 
indebted  for  the  preservation  of  the  faith.-)" 

Under  the  pressure  of  his  continued  and  wast- 

*  Ibid.  n.  41.  In  has  errorum  tenebras,  atque  in  hos  mores 
incidit  societatis  adventus.  Quos  ut  corrigeret  sanaretqae 
divino  auxilio  nixa  suos  omnes  nervos  et  curas  intendit. 

f  Ibid.  n.  42. 

28 


326  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

ing  labors,  Jaius  now  began  to  sink.  In  the 
month  of  August,  1552,  he  was  attacked  by  a 
mortal  illness ;  not,  indeed,  of  a  painful  or  linger- 
in  nature,  but  the  consequence  of  incessant  and 
devouring  solicitude  and  fatigue.  Being  duly  for- 
tified with  the  last  sacraments  of  the  Church,  and 
calmly  commending  his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his 
Creator,  in  the  sweet  odor  of  sanctity,  he  de- 
parted to  a  better  world.  His  death  excited  uni- 
versal mourning.  The  venerable  remains  were 
exposed  in  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  which  ap- 
pertained to  the  Franciscan  Convent,  where  they 
were  bedewed  with  the  tears  of  the  illustrious  Doc- 
tors, as  well  as  of  the  ingenuous  youth,  of  the  Uni- 
versity. To  the  grave  they  were  followed  by  all 
who  appreciated  learning,  admired  eloquence,  es- 
teemed virtue  ;  and  his  memory  will  be  held  in 
benediction  by  the  Society  of  Jesus  and  the  Catho- 
lic Church.  He  was,  indeed,  a  great  man,  an 
indefatigable  apostle.  Never  shall  his  exertions 
in  favor  of  religion  be  forgotten,  in  Italy,  Bavaria, 
and  Germany.  In  the  Council  of  Augsburg,  and 
other  Synods,  he  vindicated,  nobly  and  powerfully, 
the  Holy  Roman  Catholic  Church.  His  influence 
over  the  people  was  unbounded,  and  his  wisdom 
was  the  guide  of  Princes  and  of  Prelates.  In 
character,   he   was   naturally    most    amiable  ;    of 


CLAUDIUS  JAIUS.  327 

pleasing  manners,  and  cheerful  disposition  :  at  the 
same  time,  his  deportment  was  always  marked 
with  dignity  and  gravity.  He  loved  poverty,  and 
often  appeared  in  the  company  of  the  great  with  a 
coarse  and  tattered  habit.  He  was  devoted  to 
prayer  and  meditation  ;  scrupulously  careful  of 
time  ;  reserved  in  conversation  ;  and  modest  in 
every  action.  In  him  there  was  nothing  arrogant, 
nothing  haughty.  Though  mighty  and  uncompro- 
mising in  disputation  with  the  Lutherans,  still 
charitable  and  considerate  ;  and  thus  not  only 
confirming  the  faith  of  the  orthodox,  but,  likewise, 
conciliating  the  attention  of  heretics.  His  mode 
of  teaching  in  the  schools  was  plain,  distinct,  and 
firm.  With  wonderful  clearness  and  precision, 
he  explained  the  doctrines  of  Justification,  Predes- 
tination, Faith,  and  Good  Works.  In  a  word,  so 
precious  was  the  memory  of  his  virtues  and  erudi- 
tion, that,  after  his  death,  he  was  styled  by  the  peo- 
ple "  an  angel  of  God,  and  the  Father  and  Patron 
of  Catholics."  Even  the  great  Canisius  did  not 
hesitate  to  denominate  him  the  "Apostle  of  Ger- 
many."* 

A  monument  was  erected  to  his  name,  in  the 
University  of  Ingolstadt,  with   the   following   in- 

*  Lib.  xii.  n.  36,  37. 


328  CLAUDIUS  JAIUS. 

scription  :  u  Claudius  Jaius,  a  Doctor  in  Theology, 
a  Professor  of  the  Society  :  a  man  of  gentlest 
manners,  who  always  united  learning  with  piety. 
Here,  in  this  School,  he  won  the  reputation  of 
sanctity  among  the  highest,  the  middle,  and  the 
lowest  ;  to  all  equally  dear  and  useful  :  he  was  one 
of  the  ten  by  whom  the  holy  Society  of  Jesus  was 
originated  and  founded.  Called  hence — at  Vienna 
in  Austria — he  took  his  flight  to  those  heavenly 
realms  which  had  always  been  in  his  heart  and 
before  his  eyes,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1552."f 

f  Claudius  Jaius,  Theologus  Doctor,  Professor  Societatis, 
vir  placidissimorum  morum,  et  qui  doctrinam  cum  pietate 
perpetuo  conjunxit.  Hie,  si  quispiam  alius,  in  hac  schola, 
sanctitatis  opinionem  apud  summos,  medios,  infimos  sibi 
comparavit ;  cunctis  aeque  carus  et  salutaris ;  qui  etiam  ex 
prima  decade  rait  eorum  qui  Sanctae  Societatis  Jesu  auctores 
et  fundatores  extiterunt.  Hinc  evocatus,  Viennam  in  Austria, 
et  ea  quae  semper  in  pectore  tenuit  et  ob  oculos  habuit  aeterna 
migravit  gaudia,  anno  MDLII. 


JOHN  COBDUBIUS. 


CHAPTER     IX. 


JOHN    CORDURIUS. 


ohm  Cordubius. — One  of  the  Companions.    His  career  brief,  bat  brigh 
Was  destined   for    Ireland.     Was  appointed  Confessor  to    Margaret 
daughter  of  Charles  V.    His  death  revealed  to  Ignatius  on  the  Bridge 
of  Sixtus. 

Brief  and  bright  is  the  history  of  this  holy  man  : 
who  seems  to  have  been  ordained  by  Providence 
merely  to  inscribe  his  name  on  the  rolls  of  the  in- 
fant Society,  and  then  to  disappear.  All  of  him, 
however,  died  not.*  His  virtues,  his  example, 
and  his  memory,  lived  after  him,  and  they  are  im- 
mortal. Had  he  been  spared  to  exercise  his  ar- 
dent zeal,  and  devote  his  shining  talents,  to  the 
cause  of  the  Church ,  during  these  troublous  and 
melancholy  times,  what  tongue  can  tell  the  incal- 
culable  good,  which,  in  concert  with   his  associ- 

*  Non  omnis  moriar. — Hor.  lib.  iii.  od.  xxx. 


332  JOHN   COKDURIUS. 

ates  in  the  Company  of  Jesus,  he  would  have 
achieved.  Had  Xavier  been  taken  from  the  field 
of  promise,  ere  he  had  reaped  the  vast  and  glori- 
ous harvest  which  renders  his  fame  unequalled  in 
modern  ages,  no  mind  would  have  been  able  to 
conjecture,  much  less  foresee,  the  stupendous  result 
of  his  missionary  labors.  So  are  we  utterly  in- 
capable of  forming  any  idea  of  the  usefulness  of 
Cordurius  in  the  Church,  had  he  been  permitted 
to  measure  the  ordinary  number  of  years  allotted 
to  man.  But  of  him  may  it  emphatically  be  said  : 
Gonsummatus  in  brevi  explemt  tempora  multa* 

In  the  year  1536,  Ignatius,  having  quitted  Paris, 
and  departed,  on  important  affairs,  into  Spain,  con- 
fided to  Faber  the  care  of  his  companions  :  exhort- 
ing them  to  look  up  to  him,  on  account  of  the  dig- 
nity of  his  priesthood,  and  the  priority  of  his 
vocation  ;  and  to  reverence  him  as  their  Father.")* 

Faber,  who  had  already  completed  the  course  of 
his  studies,  and  acquired  great  renown  for  his 
learning  and   sanctity,  was   not   unfaithful  to  his 


*  Being  made  perfect  in  a  short  space,  he  fulfilled  a  long 
time.  For  his  soul  pleased  God  :  therefore  he  hastened  to 
bring  him  out  of  the  midst  of  iniquities.  Wisdom,  chap,  iv 
v.  13, 14. 

f  Orlandin.  lib.  i.  n.  99 


JOHN   CORDURIUS.  333 

important  trust ;  but  watched  over  those  commit- 
ted to  his  charge  with  prudence  and  gentleness, 
and,  under  all  circumstances,  comported  himself 
as  a  worthy  disciple,  and  representative  of  Igna- 
tius. 

It  was  during  the  absence  of  the  venerable 
founder  of  the  Society  that,  through  the  salutary 
admonitions,  and  by  the  saintly  example,  of  Faber, 
John  Cordurius,  a  native  of  France,  was  induced 
to  add  his  name  to  the  number  of  the  first  com- 
panions. 

The  business  which  required  his  presence  in 
Spain  being  accomplished,  Ignatius  returned  to 
his  beloved  companions,  who  were  now  at  Venice, 
in  the  beginning  of  January,  1537.  He  was  re- 
ceived with  filial  rejoicing  and  tender  embraces  by 
them  all,  who  united  in  their  most  fervent  thanks 
to  Heaven,  for  having  restored  their  Father  to 
their  bosoms.  Cordurius,  with  the  other  compan- 
ions, departed  for  Rome,  leaving  Ignatius  behind 
to  make  arrangements  for  their  intended  pilgrim- 
age to  the  Holy  Land.  In  the  city,  they  scattered 
themselves  in  every  quarter,  devoting  themselves 
to  acts  of  charity  and  mercy  :  and  after  obtaining, 
as  was  before  related,  the  benediction  of  the  Sov- 
ereign Pontiff,  Paul  III.,  they  retraced  their  steps 
to  Venice,  where  the  sacred  order  of   Priesthood 


334:  JOHN   COEDURIUS. 

was  conferred  upon  all,  on  the  feast  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist  (153?),  by  Vincent  Negosantio,  Bishop 
of  Arbe,  a  man  not  less  renowned  for  the  nobility 
of  his  birth,  than  the  splendor  of  his  virtues.*  In 
the  various  occupations  in  wuich  these  extraor- 
dinary men  were  employed,  none  evinced  a  more 
devoted  spirit  than  Cordurius.  When  he  made  his 
solemn  vows,  so  vivid  was  the  expression  of  his 
piety,  so  great  was  the  force  and  exuberance  of 
his  divine  consolation,  that,  in  spite  of  every  effort 
to  conceal  them,  they  burst  from  the  depths  of 
his  soul  in  frequent  sighs,  and  in  involuntary 
sobs.f 

When  making  the  pilgrimage,  with  Laynez,  to  the 
Seven  Churches,  he  would  wander  over  the  fields 
in  order  to  give  vent,  if  possible,  unperceived,  to 
his  lamentations.  Such  sensibility  seemed  not 
fitted  for  the  cold  meridian  of  earth  ;  and  Heaven 
decreed  that  he  should  not  be  suffered  to  sojourn 
long  amid  its  sorrows  and  cares.  He  foresaw  the 
speedy  coming  of  the  angel  of  death,  and  pre- 
pared for  his  exit  from  this  mortal  existence,  with 
the  resignation  and  piety  of  one  predestinated  to 
immortal  bliss.  On  the  festival  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  whose  name  he  bore — the  anniversary  of 

*  Lib.  ii.  n.  3, 10,  12.  f  Lib.  iii.  n.  19. 


JOHN  CORDURIUS  335 

his  promotion  to  priestly  orders — he  calmly 
breathed  his  soul  into  the  hands  of  his  Creator. 

Orlandinus  relates,  that  Ignatius,  on  going  to 
offer  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  for  his  recov- 
ery, in  the  church  of  St.  Peter  in  Janiculo,  suddenly 
stopped  on  the  bridge  of  Sixtus,  as  if  wrapt  in 
amazement ;  and  then  turning  to  his  companion, 
Baptist  Viola,  "  Let  us  return  home,"  he  said  ; 
"our  dear  Cordurius  is  no  more.* 

In  this  short  space  is  contained  the  whole  histo- 
ry of  John  Cordurius.  Of  his  sanctity,  Ignatius 
entertained  the  highest  opinion  :  and  of  the  pru- 
dence which  distinguished  his  earliest  career,  there 
can  be  no  better  evidence  than  of  his  having  been 
appointed  Confessor  to  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Charles  V.,  and  afterwards  selected  to  undertake 
the  mission  to  Ireland.f  In  a  letter  to  Faber, 
Ignatius  mentions  the  death  of  Cordurius,  as  of 
his  beloved  child,  taken  prematurely,  indeed,  from 
his  brethren  on  earth,  but  transported  to  the  bright 
and  glorious  company  of  the  angels  and  saints  in 
heaven. 

*  Referamus,  inquit,  no  domum :  Cordurius  nosier  dicessh 
[bid.  n.  20. 
f  Ibid.  n.  46. 


PASCHASIUS  BBOETUS 


CHAPTER    X. 

PASCHASIUS    BROfiTUS. 

Pasohasitts  Br)etus.— The  last  of  the  Nine.  Is  sent  to  Ireland.  la 
captured  at  Lyons  as  a  spy.  Is  sent  to  Monte  Pulciano,  and  to  Faven- 
za.  Is  deemed  worthy  to  be  made  Patriarch  of  Ethiopia  by  Ignatius. 
Goes  to  Bologna.  To  Ferrara.  Is  made  the  first  Provincial  of  Italy. 
Is  sent  to  France.  Labors  to  establish  the  Society  at  Paris.  Oppo 
sition  of  the  Sorbonne.  Triumph  of  justice.  His  patience  and  other 
virtues.    Styled  by  Ignatius  the  "  Angel  of  the  Society." 

Berlincourt,  a  town  near  Amiens,  in  Picardy, 
claims  the  honor  of  having  given  birth  to  this 
ninth  and  last  of  the  companions  of  the  Founder 
of  the  Society  ;  who,  with  Cordurius,  added  his 
name  to  their  number,  under  the  influence  of  Fa- 
ber,  during  the  absence  of  Ignatius  from  Paris,  in 
the  year  1536.  At  this  period,  he  was  already 
adorned  with  the  priestly  character,  and,  with  the 
others,  was  present  at  the  renovation  of  vows  on 
Mont-Matre,  having  gone  through  the  ordinary  or- 
deal of  the  spiritual  exercises  under  the  direction 
of  Ignatius  ;  giving,  during  many  days,  an  example 
of  rigid  abstinence  and  fasting,  "  which,"  in  the 
language  of  Orlandinus,  "  is  more  to  be  admired 
than  to  be  imitated  by  posterity."* 

*  Quorum  admiranda  magis  quam  imitanda  viderentui 
exempla. — Lib.  i  n.  102. 


340  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

The  first  stage  of  the  public  functions  of  Broetius 
was  Ireland,  that  oppressed  and  afflicted  land,  whose 
children,  despite  the  newly  enacted  penal  laws,  and 
the  utter  want  of  spiritual  aid,  continued  firm  and 
faithful  to  the  religion  which  their  ancestors  had « 
received  from  their  glorious  apostle,  St.  Patrick.  Of 
the  details  of  this  his  great  mission,  I  have  already 
treated  in  the  history  of  his  fellow-Jesuit  and  co- 
laborer,  Alphonsus  Salmeron.*  It  will  be  unneces- 
sary to  repeat  their  sufferings,  dangers,  exploits, 
and  privations  in  Ireland,  their  escape  at  Lyons, 
where  they  were  arrested  as  spies,  and  their  difficult 
return  to  Italy.  In  every  variety  of  circumstances, 
Broetus  proved  his  zeal,  disinterestedness,  and  per- 
severance, ready  to  lay  down  his  life,  if  necessary, 
for  the  magnificent  end  which  the  Society  proposed 
to  his  view  in  all  things  :  viz.,  the  advancement  of 
God's  glory,  and  the  salvation  of  the  human  race.f 

On  his  return  from  Ireland,  Broetus  was  sent, 
by  Ignatius,  to  Foligno,  at  the  solicitation  of  Blo- 
sius,  bishop  of  that  city,  who  had  recently  been  dec- 
orated with  the  Cardinal's  hat.  There  a  wide 
field  expanded  to  his  labors,  among  all  classes  and 
orders  of  society.  To  the  convents  he  restored 
the  fervor  of  their  ancient  discipline  :  and  among 

•  Chap.  ▼.  t  ttb.  iii.  n.  62. 


PASCHASIUS   BROETUS.  341 

the  clergy — who  had  degenerated  into  ignorance  as 
well  as  negligence  of  their  duties — diffused  the 
Bpirit  of  knowledge  and  letters,  as  well  as  of  reg- 
ularity and  zeal.  The  vices  of  the  people  he,  in  a 
great  degree,  abolished,  and  produced  a  general 
reform,  which  seemed  the  work  more  of  divine  power 
than  of  human  agency.  The  Cardinal,  who  witnessed, 
with  admiration,  this  wondrous  change,  requested 
him  to  exert  his  influence  also  at  Monte  Pulciano, 
the  birthplace  of  that  eminent  Prelate.  With  alac- 
rity he  entered  upon  a  similar  career  in  that  place; 
and  not  without  equal  success,  preaching,  and  cat- 
echising-, and  reviving  religion  and  piety,  to  the 
universal  satisfaction  and  joy  of  the  inhabitants.* 
He  remained  among  them  three  months  ;  when, 
by  another  Cardinal,  his  presence  was  solicited  in 
France.  This  was  Rudolphus  Pius,  to  whose  pro- 
tection and  encouragement  the  Sovereign  Pontiff 
had  commended  the  Society  in  its  cradle,  bestow- 
ing on  him,  to  this  effect,  the  title  of  "  Protector."")- 
The  main  object  held  out  to  the  wisdom  and  zeal 
of  Broetus  in  this  mission,  was  the  restoration  of 

*  Lib.  iv.  n.  11,  12.  Pari  incolarum  turn  utilitate,  turn 
gaudio.  Utrobique  praeter  caetera,  in  tradendis  Christian® 
Fidei  elementis. 

f  Orlandinug  calls  him  prcsstanti  prudentid  virum. — Ibid, 

n.  77. 

29* 


342  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

discipline  in  the  monastic  institutions.  In  the  dis 
charge  of  this  delicate  office — especially  in  the 
female  establishments — he  conducted  himself  with 
extreme  lenity  and  indulgence,  by  which  he  gained 
the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  inmates.  He 
introduced  the  primitive  spirit  of  prayer  and  medi- 
tation among  them,  mildly  exhorting  them  to  look 
to  heaven  for  the  grace  necessary  for  the  attain- 
ment of  that  perfection  to  which  they  had  devoted 
their  lives.  On  all  occasions  he  acted  under  the 
influence  of  that  memorable  maxim  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, that  the  eternal  noise  of  reproach  would  be 
idle  if  there  were  not  an  interior  voice  whisper- 
ing to  the  consenting  heart.*  Such  gentle  admoni- 
tions steal  insensibly  into  the  soul,  and  excite  those 
sympathies  and  affections  which  severity  and 
stern  rebuke  are  often  only  calculated  to  stifle 
One  bland  and  tender  word  is  frequently  more 
effectual,  in  changing  the  sinner's  heart,  than  long 
and  bitter  denunciations.  This  proved  to  be  the 
case  in  the  present  remarkable  instance.  The 
monastic  communities  yielded,  at  once,  to  the  sweet 
violence  of  persuasion:  they  sought  enlightenment 
and  grace  in  fervent  and  common  prayer,  and,  re- 

*  Inanem  esse  strepitum  monentis  vocis,  nisi  sit  intus  qui 
doceat. — Agust.  Ep.  i.  Joann.  Tract  iii. 


PASCHASIUS  BROETUS.  343 

penting  of  their  errors,  submitted  to  the  authority 
of  their  Prelate — from  whom  they  had,  ere  this, 
been  alienated- — and,  with  renovated  fervor,  prac- 
tised the  virtues  and  exercises  of  their  holy  state.* 

Providence,  as  if  desirous  of  crowning  these  rare 
merits  of  Broetus,  visited  him,  at  this  juncture,  with 
a  severe  and  dangerous  illness  ;  but,  nevertheless, 
spared  his  bodily  life  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
others.  Hardly  had  he  arisen  from  his  bed  of  sick- 
ness, before  he  was  sent — still  infirm  but  obedient 
— at  the  request  of  the  same  Cardinal,  to  Favenza.f 

The  aspect  of  that  city,  as  represented  by  Orlan- 
dinus,  was  of  the  most  melancholy  character.  It 
had  long  been  deprived  of  all  spiritual  aid,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  universal  depravity  of  morals 
prevailed,  and  the  sacred  exercises  of  religion  had, 
in  a  great  measure,  disappeared.  Intemperance, 
discord,  enmities,  and  other  deadly  vices,  reigned 
abroad.  The  use  of  the  sacraments  had  ceased, 
and  the  infamous  habit  of  swearing  had  extended 
to  all  classes,  even  to  the  very  children  themselves. 
Crimes  the  most  flagrant  in  their  nature  had  lost 
their  turpitude  and  guilt;  and,  as  is  usually  the  case, 
this  dissoluteness  of  morals  was  followed  by  perverse 
and  temerarious  opinions  in  religious  faith.     Into 

*— ^— — — ■— ■— ■— 1 ^i— — — —  |  .     .      ■■■  i  .  I  I  »W^MW   ■■■!   ■'  " 

*  lib.  iv.  n.  77  f  Ibid.  n.  78. 


344  PASCHASIUS  BROETTJS. 

the  bosom  of  this  city  the  errors  of  Luther  had 
found  an  easy  avenue  ;  especially  as  they  were  in- 
troduced by  a  man  who,  adorned  by  nature  with  the 
gifts  of  noble  eloquence,  converted  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  souls  his  fatal  talent,  which  had  been  be- 
stowed upon  him  for  their  salvation.  This  indi- 
vidual was  the  famous  Bernardinus  Ochinus,  who, 
having  laid  aside  the  cowl  and  sandals  of  the  Capu- 
chin friar,  assumed  the  gown  and  habits  of  a  re- 
former, and  disseminated  his  errors  throughout  this 
fatal  city.*  So  that  the  laborer  in  his  shop  would 
interrupt  his  work  to  catch  the  grateful  novelties 
so  plausibly  diffused ;  and  the  lounger  in  the  tavern, 
as  he  emptied  his  wine-cup,  would  drink  in  with 
keen  delight  a  doctrine  that  freed  the  mind  from 
all  control,  and  the  passions  from  all  restraint."}" 
It  required  no  ordinary  man  to  meet   Ochinus,  on 


*  Ochinus  had  been  the  Superior  of  the  Capuchin  Friars 
in  Italy.  But  leaving  his  order,  in  which  he  had  acquired 
great  reputation,  both  for  austerity  of  life  and  his  extraordi 
nary  talent  for  preaching,  he  joined  Peter  Martyr  in  Switzer- 
land ;  and  afterwards  lapsed  into  Arianism.  Beza,  in  his 
letter  to  Diducius,  charges  him  with  the  basest  crimes  and 
the  utmost  impiety :  *'  he  has  become  a  fautor  of  the  Arians, 
a  mocker  of  Christ  and  his  Church." — Fiorim.  p.  296. 

f  Passim,  ut  in  tabernis  officinisque  pestilentis  venena  ma 
gistri  impunissime  tractarentur. — Lib.  v.  n.  18 


PASCHASIUS   BROETUS.  345 

nis  natal  soil,  and  to  counteract  his  mighty  and 
popular  influence.  To  effect  this,  it  was  necessary 
that  national  prejudices  should  be  overcome,  no- 
tions of  religion  agreeable  to  human  reason  should 
be  sacrificed,  and  a  system  of  morality  gratifying 
to  the  natural  appetites  should  be  destroyed. 
Ochinus  was  an  Italian.  Broetus  was  a  French- 
man. But  the  former  was  an  apostate;  the  latter 
a  Jesuit.  The  one  a  fautor  and  promoter  of  schism 
and  heresy;  the  other  a  vindicator  and  apostle  of 
unity  and  truth  :  with  him  was  the  Spirit  of  God, 
and  the  issue  of  his  ministry  at  Favenza  proves 
that  that  Spirit  must  prevail  against  any  antagonist. 
Broetus  calmly  surveyed  the  prospect,  and  stud- 
ied the  dispositions  of  the  people,  which  discover- 
ing to  be  lofty  and  generous,  he  deemed  it  necessary 
to  undertake  the  mission  allotted  him  with  caution 
and  circumspection.  Individuals  of  superior  qual- 
ities, and  disposed  to  piety,  he  gained  over  by  bland 
and  conciliatory  conversations;  and  then  facilitated 
the  work  of  reform  in  morals  and  of  conviction  in 
truth.  With  all  classes,  he  began  his  task  with  an 
affectionate  and  kind  spirit,  under  the  deep  impres- 
sion that  the  divine  clemency  is  most  easily  excited 
by  benevolent  and  charitable  actions.  At  this  pe- 
riod the  city  was  filled  with  a  multitude  of  poor  and 
desolate  beings.     To  the  relief  of  their  wants,  and 


346  PASCflASIUS   BR0ETU8. 

the  solace  of  their  miseries,  he  labored  to  devise 
some  efficient  remedy.  With  this  view,  he  established 
a  Sodality,  over  which  he  himself  presided,  of  which 
the  object  was,  that  its  devoted  members  should 
afford  assistance,  not  merely  of  a  corporal,  but  what 
was  infinitely  more  important,  of  a  spiritual,  na- 
ture. At  their  head,  he  scoured  the  whole  city, 
seeking  after  and  aiding  the  wretched  and  for- 
saken; supplying  the  indigent  sick  with  medicines 
and  the  attendance  of  physicians,  as  also  with  ne- 
cessary and  proper  nourishment,  and  performing 
other  works  of  charity  among  them.* 

The  result  of  these  efforts  surpassed  all  antici- 
pation. The  Sodalists,  by  their  own  virtuous  exam- 
ple, shed  throughout  the  city  a  salutary  influence, 
while  the  good  deeds  they  performed  increased  the 
fame  of  Broetus,  and  excited  general  admiration. 
Encouraged  by  this  auspicious  experiment,  he 
now  ventured  to  stand  as  a  public  instructor  before 
the  people,  and  explained,  in  a  simple  and  unos- 
tentatious style  and  manner,  the  elements  of  Chris- 
tian doctrine.  This  was  a  novel  scene,  which  at- 
tracted a  large  concourse  of  all  ages  and  classes. 
Nor  did  he  confine  this  exercise  to  the  churches, 
but  carried  it  into  the  schools,  with  the  approbation 

*  lib.  v.  n.  19. 


PASCHASIUS   BROETUS.  347 

of  the  teachers  and  parents  of  the  children,  and 
thereby  implanted  in  the  pliant  and  ingenuous 
hearts  of  youth  the  germ  of  truth  and  piety.  The 
effect  produced  was  so  general  and  excellent,  that 
in  schools  containing  sometimes  more  than  four 
hundred  pupils  not  an  oath,  or  an  obscene  word, 
was  heard  to  drop  from  their  lips.  To  these  ex- 
ercises, he  added,  moreover,  public  exhortations  to 
the  people  in  general,  and  private  conferences  with 
individuals  in  particular.  By  which  means  re- 
ligion, which,  on  his  arrival,  seemed  to  be  tottering 
hopelessly  to  ruin,  was  once  more  restored  to  its 
primitive  vigor,  and  placed  upon  a  solid  founda- 
tion. Peace  was  effected  among  many  of  the 
principal  families  which  had  been  torn  by  dissen- 
sion ;  hundreds  of  individuals  at  a  time  were  seen 
meeting  in  an  appointed  place  for  the  purpose  of 
being  reconciled,  and  of  pardoning  one  another,  in 
the  presence  of  the  blessed  peace-maker,  Broetus.* 
The  manners  of  the  people  being  happily  re- 
formed, the  task  of  removing  from  their  minds  the 
errors  which  had  been  instilled  into  them,  became 
comparatively  easy.  The  consequences  of  those 
errors  were  now  dispassionately  viewed,  and  bit- 

*  "Blessed  are  the  peace-makers."    The  first  Jesuits  were 
eminently  the  friends  of  peace. 


348  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

tcrly  deplored.  The  license  which  they  granted 
to  private  judgment  and  human  passions  not  only 
tended  to  the  subversion  of  all  ecclesiastical  au« 
thority,  and  the  destruction  of  unity,  but  likewise 
to  the  rejection  and  violation  of  all  law  and  order. 
The  citizens  of  Favenza,  brought  back  to  a  sense  of 
sober  reflection  by  the  convincing  and  touching  re- 
monstrances of  Broetus,  recognized  in  his  ministry 
the  interposing  mercy  of  God :  and,  as  it  were  with 
one  accord,  repudiating  the  novelties  of  Luther 
and  Ochinus,  threw  themselves  again  into  the  arms 
of  their  Holy  Mother,  the  ancient  Catholic  Church.* 

*  "  Far  above  all  the  rest,"  writes  Hallam,  "  the  Jesuits 
were  the  instruments  for  regaining  France  and  Germany  to 
the  Church  they  served. . . .  They  knew  how  to  clear  their 
reasoning  from  scholastic  pedantry  and  tedious  quotation,  for 
the  simple  and  sincere  understandings  which  they  addressed. 
The  weak  points  of  Protestantism  they  attacked  with  embar- 
rassing ingenuity  :  and  the  reformed  churches  did  not  cease 
to  give  them  abundant  advantages  by  inconsistency,  ex 
travagance,  and  passion." — History  of  Literature,  vol.  i.  ch.  x. 

This  learned  author  might  have  given  other  equally  pow- 
erful reasons  for  their  success  in  reclaiming  such  numbers  of 
persons  back  to  the  Church :  he  might  have  referred  to  their 
untiring  zeal,  their  incontaminate  lives,  their  magnanimous 
motives,  their  vast  learning,  and  fheir  extraordinary  elo- 
quence :  all  of  which  were  under  the  heavenly  influence  of 
that  Society,  to  whose  institute  and  rules  they  had  vowed 
obedience.    Lib.  v.  n.  20. 


PASCHASIUS  BROETUS  349 

Broetus  continued  at  Favenza  during  the  entire 
year,  when,  in  1550,  he  was  called  to  Bologna 
But  his  assiduous  mental  and  bodily  fatigue  brought 
on  him  a  violent  disease  in  the  head,  for  which, 
by  the  advice  of  his  physician  and  Confessor,  he 
retired  to  Monte  Pulciano,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
baths.  Nor  was  he  inactive  even  there.  For  the 
benefit  of  the  Catholics  of  that  place,  he  cele- 
brated the  Divine  Mysteries,  heard  confessions, 
and  gave  public  meditations,  at  which  the  Car- 
dinal and  other  distinguished  personages  assisted.* 

His  health  being  restored,  he  returned  to  Bologna, 
where,  during  the  space  of  an  entire  year,  he  con- 
tinued in  the  unceasing  exercise  of  his  zeal,  aided  by 
the  powerful  co-operation  of  Salmeron,  while  that 
great  man  was  attending  the  Council  sitting  in  that 
capital.  With  what  efficacy  he  labored  for  the 
salvation  of  souls,  the  change  wrought  among  all 
classes — especially  among  the  clergy — bore  une- 
quivocal testimony.  Numbers  who  had  been  infected 
with  the  Lutheran  errors  were  induced  to  abjure 
them,  and  reconcile  themselves  to  the  Church  :  and 
a  permanent  establishment  of  the  Society  was  com- 
menced, two  buildings  adjoining  the  church  of  St. 
Lucia  having  been  given  for  this  purpose.f 

*  lib.  vii.  n.  25.  f  lib.  viii.  n.  26. 

30 


350  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

Many  Colleges,  besides  those  of  Sicily  and  Nj. 
pies,  had  now  been  erected  in  Italy,  so  that  it  was 
necessary  for  Ignatius,  who  was  oppressed  with 
dutifcti  and  labors,  to  divide  the  burden  he  had 
hitherto  borne.  Accordingly,  uniting  all  those  Col- 
leges as  it  were  into  one  province,  he  confided  the 
charge  of  it  to  Broetus,  under  the  title  of  Provin- 
cial. He  was,  therefore,  the  first  Father  who  ever 
filled  that  important  office  in  Italy.  The  colleges 
of  Palermo  and  Naples,  Ignatius  still  continued  to 
administer  in  person.*  In  this  responsible  and 
honorable  station,  Broetus  remained  until  the  year 
1552,  when  he  was  called  to  France,  leaving  the 
province  in  the  hands  of  the  venerable  Laynez.f 

At  Paris  he  found  a  boundless  theatre  for  his 
zeal  and  perseverance.  In  the  Church  of  St.  Ger- 
main he  devoted  himself  to  the  confessional,  to 
which  numberless  penitents  flocked  for  consolation 
and  the  remission  of  their  sins.  The  crowning 
achievement,  however,  of  his  devoted  life  remained 
still  to  be  accomplished.  This  was  the  introduction 
of  the  Society,  with  the  due  approbation  of  parlia- 
ment, into  his  native  country.  He  had  already  se- 
cured the  interest  of  the  Cardinal  of  Lorraine,  and 

*  Lib.  xi.  n.  35. 

\  The  reader  is  referred  to  Chapter  IV.,  where  he  will  be 
edified  by  the  humility  of  that  great  man. 


PASCHASIUS  BKOETUS.  351 

the  concurrence  of  Henry,  king  of  France.  The 
parliament,  with  a  wavering  and  timid  policy,  had 
delayed  taking  any  definitive  action  on  the  matter, 
and,  at  length,  resolved  to  remove  the  responsibil- 
ity of  it  from  their  own  body  to  the  Bishop,  and 
University  of  Sorbonne.  Among  the  Senators  as 
well  as  Doctors,  there  were  many  who  disproved 
of  all  new  religious  orders,  without  exception;  whilst 
the  Bishop  professed  an  open  hostility  to  the  So- 
ciety in  particular,  affirming  that  its  privileges  and 
inmunities  conflicted  whith  the  prerogatives  and 
authority  of  the  Hierarchy.* 

The  position  in  which  Broetus  found  himself, 
under  these  circumstances,  was  precarious  and 
discouraging.  He  saw  a  thousand  difficulties  to 
be  overcome,  numberless  contentions  to  be  silenced, 
and  sundry  conflicting  prejudices  to  be  harmonized 
Nevertheless,  he  threw  himself  into  the  midst  of  the 
business  :  with  his  usual  blandness  persuading 
some,  reasoning  with  others,  and  triumphantly 
vindicating  the  "  Book  of  Exercises,"  against  which, 
both  here  and  elsewhere,  a  very  strong  opposition 
had  grown  up.  This  extraordinary  book,  as  the 
reader  saw  above,  had  been  approved  by  the  Apos- 
tjlic  See,  in  the  year  1548,  and  earnestly  recom- 

*  lib.  xiii  n.  38. 


352  PASCHASIUS   BROETUS. 

mended  to  the  faithful,  as  containing  exercises 
which,  if  devoutly  practised,  will  conduce  to  piety 
and  perfection.*  Among  the  most  learned  and 
distinguished  apologists  whom  it  numbered,  at  this 
early  period,  Bartholomew  Torres,  Bishop  of  the 
Canary  Islands,  stands  pre-eminent.  The  testimony 
which  he  rendered  of  its  value  and  excellence  is 
recorded  in  the  pages  of  Orlandinus  ;  and  I  cannot 
omit  in  these,  at  least  the  substance  of  that  memo- 
rable document :  "  God  is  my  witness,"  he  writes, 
"  how  cheerfully  and  willingly  I  pronounce  my 
opinion  concerning  the  Exercises  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus.  I  desire  what  I  write  to  be  known  of  the 
whole  world.  And  lest  it  should  be  supposed  that 
I  am  influenced  by  any  private  partiality,  I  declare 
that  I  am  not  a  member  of  that  Society  :  but,  like- 
wise, affirm  that,  although  I  am  the  least  learned 
of  Doctors,  yet  am  I  able  to  satisfy  any  one  on  this 
point  ;  since  I  have  known  the  Society  from  its 
foundation,  and  have  been  a  familiar  associate  of 
Ignatius  at  Salamanca  :  with  his  followers,  also,  I 
have  had  much  intercourse,  and  have  carefully  and 
vigilantly  observed  their  conduct.  I,  moreover, 
declare,  that  from  the  time  when  I  first  became  ac- 
quainted with  this  holy  Society,  not  a  crime,  not  aD 

*  See  Chapter  L 


PASCHASIUS  BROETTJS.  353 

error,  have  I  been  able  to  detect  among  its  members. 
With  regard  to  the  '  Exercises/  no  one,  who  has  not 
gone  through  them,  can  be  a  proper  judge  of  their 
spirit  and  virtue.  I  have  seen  learned  men,  who 
cannot  understand  their  character  and  value  ;  while 
others,  of  less  erudition,  who  have  tried  them, 
perceive  nothing  in  them  but  what  is  perfectly  con- 
formable to  the  Scripture  and  the  Holy  Fathers. 
It  is  one  thing  to  comprehend  the  literal  meaning, 
and  another  to  appreciate  the  spirit  of  this  book. 
Prayer,  study,  and  the  practice  of  virtue  are  neces- 
sary, in  order  to  derive  the  proper  benefit  from  it. 
For  my  own  part,  I  acknowledge  that  I  performed 
these  '  Exercises  '  at  Compostella  ;  and  God  is  my 
witness,  that  during  that  time  I  learned  more  than 
in  the  space  of  thirty  years  spent  in  the  study  of 
philosophy,  and  in  the  teaching  of  theology.  If  this 
declaration  appear  extraordinary  to  any  Doctor, 
who  is  satisfied  with  his  erudition,  let  him  make  the 
experiment :  if  he  will  but  submit  to  the  trial,  he 
will  come  forth  with  the  same  experience.  I  will 
add,  that  I  have  known  not  a  few  who  have  gone 
through  them,  and  many  at  my  persuasion,  as  well 
religious  as  secular  persons  ;  of  whom  there  was 
not  one  who  did  not  become  benefited,  and  did  not 
proclaim  them  above  all  other  human  institutions. 
Would  to  God  we  could  all  understand  how  precious 

30* 


354  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

a  treasury  they  contain  ! — of  prayer,  meditation, 
direction,  and  government  of  the  soul,  and  wisdom, 
which  are  condensed  and  comprised  within  so 
small  a  compass.  If,  then,  any  one  desires  to  know 
what  these  '  Exercises '  are,  I  reply,  that  they  are 
nothing  else  than  attentive  and  profound  considera- 
tion of  the  dogmas,  law,  and  precepts  of  the  Gospel ; 
of  the  benefits  bestowed  by  the  Almighty  on  the 
human  race  ;  of  the  life  and  death  of  Christ  ;  of 
the  state  of  our  past  lives,  accompanied  by  salutary 
resolutions  for  the  future.  I,  moreover,  declare, 
that  the  '  Exercises,'  and  all  they  contain,  have 
generally  and  particularly,  been  confirmed  by  the 
authority  of  the  Holy  See  ;  and  have  been  recom- 
mended by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  as  of  great  utility 
to  the  faithful.  The  objections  which  are  alleged 
against  them  are  very  trivial,  and  in  some  points, 
too,  ridiculous  ;  for  it  is  unworthy  a  wise  man  to 
affiim  that  a  book,  approved  by  the  Holy  See,  could 
contain  any  thing  contrary  to  pure  morals  and 
sound  doctrine."* 

*  Lib.  xiii.  n.  34,  35,  36,  37,  38.  The  "  Spiritual  Exer- 
cises," in  the  language  of  the  judicious  Mr.  Stephen,  "forma 
manual  of  what  may  be  called  the  act  of  conversion.  It  pro- 
poses a  scheme  of  self-discipline  by  which,  in  the  course  of 
four  Wfacks,  that  mighty  work  is  to  be  accomplished.  In  the 
first,  tht.  penitent  is  conducted  through  a  series  of  dark  retro* 


PASCHASIUS   BROETUS.  355 

This  was  the  nature  of  that  Book  of  "  Exer- 
cises," which  the  Parliament  of  France,  from  the 
fact — as  Torres  justly  remarks — of  their  being 
ignorant  of  its  heavenly  spirit,  hesitated  to  admit, 
with  the  Society  to  which  it  belonged,  into 
their  dominions.  Such  the  Book  which  the  Doc- 
tors of  the  Sorbonne — for  the  same  reason — op- 
posed and  proscribed  ;    and  was  made   the  theme 

spects  to  abase,  and  gloomy  prospects,  to  alarm  him.  These 
ends  obtained,  he  is,  during  the  next  seven  days,  to  enrol 
himself— such  is  the  military  style  of  the  Book — in  the  army 
of  the  faithful,  studying  the  sacred  biography  of  the  Divine 
Leader  of  that  elect  host,  and  choosing,  with  extreme  caution, 
the  plan  of  life,  religious  or  secular,  in  which  he  would  best 
be  able  to  tread  in  his  steps  and  to  bear  the  standard  emblem- 
atic at  once  of  suffering  and  conquest.  To  sustain  the 
Soldier  of  the  Cross  in  this  protracted  warfare,  his  spiritual 
eye  is,  during  the  third  of  his  solitary  weeks,  to  be  fixed  in 
a  reverential  scrutiny  into  that  unfathomable  abyss  of  woe, 
into  which  a  descent  was  once  made  to  rescue  the  race  of 
Adam  from  the  grasp  of  their  mortal  enemies ;  and  then 
6even  suns  are  to  rise  and  set,  while  the  secluded  but  now 
disenthralled  spirit  is  to  chant  triumphant  hallelujahs,  ele- 
vating his  desires  heavenward,  contemplating  glories  hitherto 
unimaginable,  and  mysteries  never  before  revealed ;  till  the 
Sacred  Exercises  close  with  an  absolute  surrender  of  all  the 
joys  and  interest  of  this  sublunary  state,  as  a  holocaust,  to 
be  consumed  by  the  undying  flame  of  Divine  love  on  the 
altar  of  the  regenerated  heart." — Critical  Miscellanies. 


356  PASCHASIUS  BROETUS. 

of  denunciation  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  Chair  of 
Theology,  in  private  circles,  and  in  public  ha- 
rangues. 

All  these  persecutions  Broetus  suffered  with  un- 
ruffled patience,  and  unshaken  constancy  :  and  he 
would  have  inevitably  been  crushed  under  their 
violence,  could  his  enemies  have  infused  their  pre- 
judices and  animosities  into  the  heart  of  Henry 
II.  But  instead  of  yielding  to  the  popular  feeling, 
that  excellent  monarch  assured  Broetus  and  the 
Cardinal  of  Lorraine,  that  the  Society  was  shielded 
by  his  protection,  and  never  should  he  consent  to 
abandon  it.  The  members,  however — and  particu- 
larly Broetus — were  exposed  to  continual  insults. 
Strange  rumors  concerning  them  were  spread  among 
the  populace,  so  that  they  could  not  appear  in  public 
without  being  covered  with  scorn  and  contempt. 
Broetus  bore  these  injuries  with  silent  forbearance; 
but  deemed  it,  at  the  same  time,  more  prudent  to 
suspend  the  public  functions  of  his  ministry.  In 
private  he  continued,  with  unwearied  zeal,  to  instruct 
and  direct  those  who  put  themselves  under  his  care. 
Meanwhile,  the  Sorbonne  published  a  severe  de- 
cree against  the  Institute,  and  fraught  with  mis- 
representations of  the  character,  rules,  and  cus« 
toms  of  the  members  themselves  :  concluding  with 
the    momentous  accusation  of  their   being   "dan 


PASCHASIUS  BEOETUS  357 

gerous  to  the  faith,  destructive  to  the  peace  of 
the  Church,  and  eve.'sive  of  the  monastic  institu- 
tions."* 

Broetus,  having  consulted  Ignatius  with  regard 
to  the  proper  measures  to  be  taken  on  this  grave 
subject,  received  the  following  answer,  which  is 
stored  with  the  usual  wisdom  and  magnanimity  of 
the  great  and  venerable  man  from  whom  it  eman- 
ated: "  I  desire  you  to  bear  in  mind  the  words  of 
Jesus  Christ  addressed  to  his  disciples,  when  on  the 
point  of  departing  from  them  :  My  peace  I  give 
unto  you.  My  peace  I  leave  unto  you.  Imagine  these 
words  to  have  been  uttered  in  your  presence. 
Let  nothing  be  published,  nothing  be  done,  that 
might  engender  acerbity  of  feeling.  It  is  often 
better  to  be  silent,  than  to  speak.  Nor  is  there 
any  need  of  a  revengeful  style,  when  truth  is  her 
own  avenger.  The  authority  of  the  Doctors  of 
Paris  is,  doubtless,  very  great,  and,  on  that  ac- 
count, the  more  to  be  dreaded  by  us.  Yet,  let 
not  even  that  disturb  us.  Nothing  can  long  prevail 
against  truth,  which  may,  indeed,  be  opposed,  but 
never  overcome.  Let  not  the  passions  be  stimu- 
lated by  the  bitterness  of  retort,  but  appeased  by 
the   humility  of  silence.     God  is   our  protection : 

*  Lib.  xv.  n.  45. 


358  PASCHASIUS  BKOETUS. 

to    Him   we    commit   our   cause,    and    it  must  tri 
umph.,;* 

The  Cardinal  of  Lorraine  saw,  with  exceeding 
grief,  the  storm  excited  against  the  Society,  for 
which — knowing  it  better  than  its  maligners — he 
cherished  the  tenderest  regard  and  affection.  In 
order  to  allay  it,  he  proposed  that  four  Doctors  of 
the  Sorbonne  should  accompany  him  to  Rome,  where 
they  should  converse  with  Ignatius  in  person,  and 
also  confer  on  the  subject  with  four  of  his  order, 
whom  he  should  select  for  the  purpose.  This  prop- 
osition was  accepted  ;  and  four  Doctors  were 
deputed  with  him;  whose  names  were  Pansa,  Saus- 
ciera,  Brixante,  and  Benedict,  the  authors  of  all 
the  mischief.  They  were  met  by  Laynez,  Olauius. 
Polancus,  and  Frusius.  Benedict  attempted  to 
defend  every  accusation  alleged  in  the  decree  :  but 
the  Fathers  refuted  his  objections,  elucidated  the 
character  of  their  order,  and  triumphantly  vindi- 
cated the  Institute.  The  substance  of  the  confer- 
ence was  cr^nmitted  to  writing  ;  and  the  task  of 
reducing  it  to  a  regular  form,  for  the  purpose  of 
transmitting  it  to  the  Sorbonne — and  to  posterity 
— was  allotted  to  Olauius,  a  man  of  eminent  lei  fil- 
ing, splendid  talents,  and  exalted  piety.     This  ^ 

*  Ibid.  n.  43. 


PASCHASIUS  BROETUS.  359 

effected  in  a  masterly  composition,  in  which  elegance 
ol'  style,  courteousness  of  manner,  terseness  of 
argument,  and  eloquence  of  diction  are  combined 
with  admirable  and  brilliant  felicity  * 

On  the  minds  of  most  of  the  Doctors  of  the  Sor- 
bonne,  this  apology  produced  the  desired  effect  :  so 
that  they  declared,  that  had  they  been  better  in- 
formed on  the  nature  of  the  Institute,  they  would  not 
have  published  their  decree  against  it.f  And  what 
proves  the  thorough  change  that  was  effected  on 
the  Doctors  of  that  famous  University,  was  the  fact, 
that,  forty  years  later,  another  excitement  having 
been  raised  against  the  Society,  their  Faculty  pro- 
nounced that  it  ought  to  be  retained  in  France.J 

Thus  may  the  recognition  in  that  kingdom  of 
this  wonderful  order  be,  in  no  small  measure,  at- 
tributed to  the  zeal  and  prudence  of  Broetus,  who, 
in  every  capacity  and  station,  proved   himself  a 
worthy  and  saintly  disciple  of  his  immortal  founder 
The  last,  but  not,  therefore,  the  least,  of  the  admi 
rable  nine:  a  band  of  noble  spirits,  associated  undei 
the  same  divine  influences,  shedding  over  the  world 

*  The  whole  paper  may  be  seen  in  Orlandinus,  lib.  xv. 
n.  46,  47,  et  seq.  A  portion  of  this  noble  vindication  of  the 
Society  was  spread  before  the  reader  in  the  first  chaptei  0>i 
this  work      1  refer  his  particular  attention  to  it. 

f  Ibid.  n.  62.  %  Ibid. 


360  PASCHASIUS   BROETUS. 

— as  has  been  shown  in  the  preceding*  pages — "  a 
burning  and  a  shining  light,"  in  darksome  and 
troublous  days,  and  contributing  their  support,  lfkc 
so  many  grand  and  stately  columns,  to  the  edifice 
of  the  Church.  His  more  than  ordinary  merit,  his 
great  and  solid  qualities,  were  well  known  to  Igna- 
tius; who,  when  there  was  question  of  appointing 
one  of  his  disciples  Patriarch  of  Ethiopia,  nomi- 
nated him  to  that  sublime  dignity.  In  concluding, 
the  rarest  tribute  that  mortal  tongue  could  pay  him 
was  bestowed  by  the  same  discerning  and  impartial 
man,  when  he  honored  Broetus  with  the  title  of 
"  the  Angel  of  the  Society."* 

*  When  there  was  question  of  appointing  a  Patriarch  of 
Ethiopia,  St.  Ignatius  recommended  Broetus  in  these  terms  : 
"  Paschasius  is  so  pure  a  man,  that  we  esteem  him  as  the 
angel  of  our  Society.  Besides  his  great  learning,  he  has 
had  no  little  experience  in  visiting  and  reforming  monas- 
teries and  dioceses.  Moreover,  he  has  been  Vicar  Apostolic 
in  Ireland.  No  one  member  of  the  Society  has  discharged  as 
many  offices  of  this  kind :  and  he  has  discharged  them,  too, 
in  such  a  manner,  that  to  whatever  work  he  applied  his  la' 
bors,  in  that  he  always  admirably  proved  his  ability.     By 

nature  he  is  very  persevering,"  etc See  Tanner,  p.  78, 

and  Drews,  Fast.  Soc.  part  III.  p.  329. 

He  was  carried  off  by  the  plague  at  Paris,  in  which  more 
than  eighty  thousand  persons  perished.  His  death  occurred 
«n  the  feast  of  the  exaltation  of  the  cross,  September  the 
4th,  A.  D.  1562,  in  the  fifty-sixth  j  ,ar  of  his  age 


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b.ey  of  Heaven,  32mo,  (Prayer  Book)  Small.  Prices  up 

from 50 

Kirwan  Unmasked.    Paper  cover.    By  Abp.  Hughes..      .12 

La  Fontaine's  Fables.    Red  line,  gilt  edge 1.35 

Last  of  the  Catholic  O'Malleys  . .   75 

L' Ange  Conducteur,  ( French  Prayer  Book) 75 

Latin  Classics,  Expurgated.    Volume  1.    Net 40 

Latin  Classics,  Expurgated.    Volume  2.  Net 50 

Legends  and  Fairy  Tales  of  Ireland 2.00 

Library  of  American  Catholic  History,  3  vols,    set  . . .    6.00 

Library  of  Catholic  Novels,  6  vols .  per  set. .    7.50 

Library  of  Catholic  Stories,  6  vols **  7.50 

Librarv  of  Controversy.  Clifton  Tracts,  4  vols    "  3.00 

Life  of  Archbishop  Mac  Hale.  Paper  .25,  Cloth  gilt....  1.00 
Life  of  Christ.    By  St.  Bonaventure...  '.. 1.25 

The  same,  gilt  edges 1.50 

Life  of  Pope  Pius  IX.    By  Monsignor  B.  O'Reilly 2.50 

Life  of  Robert  Emmett.  By  Madden... 1.50 

Life  of  St.  Bridget.  Paper  cover 10 

Life  of  St.  Ignatius,  2  vols.    By  Bartoli 3.00 

Life  of  St.  Liguori.    By  Mullock 50 

Life  of  St.  Louis,  King  of  France 40 

Life  of  St.  Marv  of  Egypt    . : 60 

Life  of  St.  Patrick.  By  O'Leary,  16mo 1.00 

Life  of  St.  Winefride,  18mo.  Cloth 60 

Life  Stories  of  Dying  Penitents .75 

Lily  of  Israel,  Life  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 75 

Little  Flowers  of  Piety,  (Prayer  Book),  1.75-1.25  and. .      .75 

Little  Follower  of  Jesus.    By  Rev.  A.  M.  Grussi 75 

Little  Lace  Maker  or  Eva  O'Beirne 75 

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Lives  of  the  Japanese  Martyrs.    Spinola,  etc 75 

Louisa  Kirkbride.     By  Rev.  A.  J.  Thebaud,  S.  J 1.50 

Love  of  Christ.    By  St.  Liguori 50 

Maidens  of  Hallowed  Names.  By  Rev.  Chas.  Piccirillo, 

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Maltese  Cross  and  a  Painting  and  its  Mission 40 

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Manual  of  Catholic  Prayers.    (Prayer  Book).    Prices 

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Manual  of  the  Children  of  Mary.    448  pages 50 

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May  Brooke.     By  Anna  H.  Dorsey.  New  edition 1.25 

Meditations  on  the  Incarnation.    St.  Liguori 75 

Merchant  of  Antwerp.   By  Hendrik  Conscience 1.25 

Mirror  of  True  Womanhood.    By  Rev.  B.  O'Reilly 2.50 

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Month  of  Mary.    By  D.  Roberto 50 

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New  Testament,  18mo.     Small  edition,  good  type 50 

New  Testament,  Octavo.  Large  type,  vellum  cloth 1.50 

New  Testament  in  Spanish.   El  Nuevo  Testamento —    1.50 

Nobleman  of '89.    By  M.  A.  Quinton 1.50 

Oratnaika.    A  Catholic  Indian  Story , 75 

Our  Country,  History  of  the  U.  S.    By  John  G.  Shea. . .      .50 

Pastor's  Visit  to  the  Science  of  Salvation 60 

Pearl  in  Dark  Waters .      .75 

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Priests'  Blessina:,  or  Destiny 1.25 

Procter's  Poems.    Red  line^  gilt  edge 1  25 

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Purgatory  Opened.    Mouth  of  November 40 

Queen's  Confession.   By  Raoul  de  Navery 75 

Religion  and  Science.    By  Father  Ronayne,  S.  J . .  .  .    1.25 

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Rosario,  a  Tale  of  the  Sixteenth  Century 75 

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Rose  of  St.  Germains,  or  Florence  O'Neill 1.25 

Rose  of  Venice.    A  Story  of  Hatred  and  Remorse 75 

Sacred  History.   By  Bishop  Challoner 50 

Scapular  Book,  approved  by  Abp.  of  New  York "    .10 

Seraphic  Staff —3d  Order  St.  Francis 25 

Seven  of  Us.   Stories  for  Boys  and  Girls 75 

Silvia,  a  Drama  by  John  Savage.    Net 90 

Sixteen  Names  of  Ancient  Ireland.   O'Leary 50 

Solitary  Island.     By  Rev.  John  Talbot  Smith ,. . .      1.25 

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Southern  Catholic  Story.  Minnie  Mary  Lee 1.25 

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Talks  about  Ireland.    By  James  Red  path.    Paper 30 

Think  Well  On't.     By  Bishop  Challoner 40 

Three  Kings  of  Cologne.    Rev.  Titus  Joslin 30 

Tracts  for  the  Young— 1st  and  2d  Series.     Each 50 

True  Men  as  we  need  Them.    Rev.  B.  O'Reilly 2.50 

Turf  Fi-re  Stories  and  Faiiy  Tales  of  Ireland 1.25 

Two  Cottages.    By  Lady  Fullerton 50 

Two  Brides.    By  Rev.  Bernard  O'Reilly 1.50 

Universal  Irish  Songster.     Profusely  Illustrated 1.50 

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